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Tales  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  Cape  C 


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UNCLE  JETHEO. 


TALES    OF  MARTHAS   VINEYARD,    CAPE  COD, 
AND   ALL  ALONG    SHORE, 


Eighty  Years  Asliore  and  Afloat, 


OR   THE 


THRILLING  ADVENTURES  OF  UNCLE  JETHRO. 


Embracing  the  remarkable  Episodes  in   a  life  of 
Toil  and  Danger,  on  Land  and  Sea, 


BY 

E,   C.   CORNELL 


BOSTON: 
ANDREW    F.    GRAVES, 

20     COEJ^-HILL. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1873,  by 

ANDREW  F.  GRAVES, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


TO   THE 

BRAVE  AND  GENEROUS 

WHO    HAVE    NOBLY    BREASTED    THE    OCEAN    BILLOWS, 

THIS   BOOK 
IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 

BY   THEIR   FRIEND, 

E.  C.  Cornell. 


CONTENTS. 

Chapt.  Page* 

I.      Introductory, 9 

II.  His  Early  History, 11 

III.  His  First  Trip  from  Home, 16 

IV.  Another  Trip  to  Connecticut,    ....  20 
V.     A  Cruise  to  Labrador, 26 

VI.     Second  Voyage  to  the  Straits,      ...  31 

VII.     Shipwreck  of  the  Elinor, 37 

VIII.     A  Fishery  of  Olden  Thies  Described,     .  41 

IX.     Fishing  Voyage  and  Bad  Rum,        ...  60 
X.     A    Cruise    of  the  Coasting  Sloop  Eastern 

Trader, 55 

XI.     Uncle  Jethro  forms  the  acquaintance  of 

his  Future  Bride,        59 

XII.  Capture  of   the  Whaler  Mary  ^nn,  by 

AN  English  Man-of-War,      ....  62 

XIII.  Almost  a  Hero, 65 

7 


Chapt.  Page 

XIV.     First  Voyage  in  a  Square  Rigger,      .       69 

XV.     Up  the  Mediterranean  ;    A  Tyrant  in 

Command, .       Y2 

XVI.  On  the  Home  Stretch,      ......  93 

XVII.     A  Trip  to  New  Haven, 105 

XVIII.  Whaling  Voyage  of  the  Ship   Apollo,  111 

XIX.  Uncle  Jethro  Next  Goes  Coasting,     .  1*72 

XX.     A  Snake  in  the  Grass, 198 

XXI.     Uncle  Jethro  in  Command  of  the  Fair 

Lady,     .     .     .     .* 205 

XXII.     A  Wrecking  Expedition  to  the  Devil's 

Bridge, 208 

XXIII.  A  West  Indiaman  on  the  South  Beach,  210 

XXIV.  Unclg  Jethro  makes  a  Harbor  at  Port 

Sanders  and  forms  the  acquaintance 

OF  A  Wandering  Tribe,        214 

XXV.  ^  Cruise  to  the  Sunny  South,       ...     220 

XXVI.     A  Voyage    to  Labrador  in    Sloop  Hero,     238 

XXVII.  One  of  the  Voyages  of  Forty  Years 

Ago, 247 

XXVIII.  The  Conclusion, 253 


Eighty  Years  Ashore  and  Afloat, 

OR 

THRILLINa  ADVENTURES  OP  UNCLE  JETHEO. 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTEODirCTOEY. 


[HE  writer  of  the  following  narrative,  having  often 
listened  with  no  slight  degree  of  interest  to  the 
stories  of  an  old  man,  feeling  desirous  that  others 
may  enjoy  their  recital,  after  mature  reflection  has 
given  himself  to  the  attempt  of  combining  them  in  one 
volume  ;  fully  believing  that  if  it  does  not  possess  so 
much  of  the  marvellous  or  supernatural  as  works  ema- 
nating only  from  the  imagination  of  the  novelist,  yet 
it  may  be  no  less  wonderful  when  properly  regarded  as 
a  truthful  narrative  of  episodes  in  the  life  and  experi- 
ence of  one  who  is  still  able  to  give  us  the  facts  ("that 

9 


10     ■  INTRODUCTOEY. 

are  stranger  than  fiction")  from  his  own  lips.  As  it 
ig  not  our  intention  to  give  to  the  work  an  indepen- 
dent preface,  and  claiming  for  ourself  no  merit  as  a 
professional  scribbler,  permit  ns  to  say  that  even  the 
contemplation  of  preparing  such  a  work  for  the  public 
scrutiny  has  given  us  many  misgivings.  Often  the 
idea  has  been  strangled,  e'er  its  conception  was  per- 
fected, but  finally,  regardless  of  the  jeers  and  rebukes 
of  unfriendly  critics,  we  enter  upon  the  duties  involved, 
imparting  to  it  (at  least)  the  benefits  of  integrity  and 
trutiiful  delineation,  which  it  is  hoped  will  enhance  its 
value,  or  make  it  prolific  in  interest  to  those  who  scan 
its  pages.  The  subject  who  will  figure  most  conspic- 
uously in  this  narrative  is  allowed  the  privilege  of  in- 
troducing himself,  as  best  suited  to  his  own  good  taste 
and  judgment. 

Now  lend  an  ear,  both  young  and  old, 
As  tales  quite  strange  we  shall  unfold, 
Of  life,   in  years  almost  fourscore 
Lived  by  one  man  on  sea  and  shore. 

Or  in  other  words,  let  us  listen  to  what     Uncle  Jethro 

has  to  say. 


CHAPTER  11. 


mS    EAELT    hIsTOET. 


*ELL  boys,  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  if  you  say  go 
siAw  ahead,  go  ahead  it  shall  be.  If  correctly  informed 
I  was  born  in  a  small  hamlet,  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  village  of  Edgartown,  My  parents  were  not,  what 
at  the  present  time  would  be  considered  wealthy,  but 
enjoying  the  reputation  of  respectability ;  and  as  "a 
good  name  is  better  than  great  riches,'^  they  should 
have  felt  rich  (•especially  after  I  was  born), — which 
incident  happened  in  the  earlier  part  of  my  life,  so  long 
ago  in  fact,  that  to  me  the  particulars  attending  that 
important  occasion  are  almost  obliterated.  Trusting, 
however,  to  the  tamily  record,  it  was  the  year  of 
grace,  IT 93,  that  bequeathed  to  society  an  ornaijient. 
destined  to  appear  upon  the  mantle-piece  of  the  nation. 
•  For  the  information  of  individuals  not  familiar  with 
our  exact  location,  let  me  tell  you  that  Edgartown, 
the  shire  town  of  the  County ^f  Dukes,  situated  on 
the  southern  extremity  of  the,  to-day,  far-famed  island 
of  Marthas  Vineyard  (without  its  celebrated  "  Oak 
Bluffs.'*  and  "Highlands,"  its  "  Bellevue,"-'' Sunset,'^ 
and  "  Ocean  "  heights,  its  "  Look-out   Mountain"  and 

n 


12  HIS    EAELT    HISTOEY. 

"  Katama'^),  is  only  remembered  as  a  small  and  sparse- 
ly-populated village,  the  principal  occupation  of  its  in- 
habitants being  the  catching  of  fish,  of  the  different 
kinds  and  dimentions,  with  which  its  neighboring  waters 
were  abundantly  supplied.  Here  ai  d  there  might  have 
been  seen  among  its  peaces  of  business  the  shop  of  a 
Hatter,  Blacksmith  and  Cooper  ;  a  few  signs  significant 
of  the  fact  that  West  India  goods  were  for  sale, — coffies, 
spices  and  oils,  not  forgetting  rum,  gin  and  brandy, 
articles  of  commerce  at  that  early  period  very  neces- 
sary, especially  the  last-mentioned.  For  to  be  without 
these,  let  it  be  remembered,  was  like  the  Irishman 
going  to  be  married  and  depending  upon  the  magistrate 
to  furnish  the  bride.  A  number  of  wharves  graced  the 
shores  of  the  inner  harbor  (which  it  is  not  boasting  to 
say  is  one  of  the  finest  on  the  American  continent)  as 
many  a  sailor  has  found  to  his  great  joy,  when  enabled 
to  drop  anchor  there  after  buffeting  the  bitter  blasts 
of  a  wintery  storm.  Besides  the  many  vessels  of  dif- 
ferent grades  and  nationalities  that  frequently  were 
seen  swinging  at  anchor  between  the  opposite  shores 
of  Chappaquiddic  and  our  own,  not  unfrequently  a  ship 
or  lighter  craft,  principally  owned  on  the  island  ol 
Nantucket,  would  be  l)rought  here  for  the  purpose  of 
being  fitted  for  a  whaling  voyage, —  an  occurrence  at- 
taching to  the  village,  an  importance  not  to  be  lightly 
regarded.  As  my  narrative  progresses  I  may  have  oc- 
casion to  refer  to  the  whaling   interest,  for  to   a   great 


HIS    EAKLY    HISTORY.  .%  ^^ 

degree  are  the  financial  resources  of  our  island  at- 
tributed to  the  success  attending  the  whale-fishing.  And 
here  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  state  that  the  Vine- 
yard has  furnished  commanders  for  more  ships  engaged 
in  that  business,  (since  the  time  of  the  opening  of  our" 
story),  than  the  same  population  in  any  other  part  of 
the  globe. 

In  the  early  period,  of  which  I  have  been  speaking, 
it  was  not  customary  for  boys  to  spend  a  great  portion 
of  time  at  school,  and  even  were  th^  facilities  offered 
.it  was  not  deemed  essential  to  the  happiness  of  the 
rising  generation  to  make  any  advances  beyond  the 
literary  attainments  of  the  fathers.  If  enabled  to  handle 
a  sail  or  take  a  trick  at  steering,  it  was  an  accomplishment 
usefal  indeed,  if  not  quite  .as  ornamental,  as  was  often 
realized  during  the  hazardous  voyages  which  comprised 
much  of  my  subsequent  life.  At  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  my  mueh  revered  father's  death  cast  its  shadows. 
over  our  happy  household.  To  be  thus  early  in  life 
deprived  of  the  love  and  care  wliich  only  a  parent  can 
bestow,  was  illy  calculated  to  lighten  the  burdens  of 
youth,  or  make  the  future  to  me  more  bright  or  hope- 
ful. As  troubles  never  come  singly,  it  was  deemed 
prudent  that  our  family  .be  represented.  Accordingly 
a  situation  was  soon  procured,  which  resulted  in  giv- 
ing me  a  home  (if  entitled  to  so  endearing  a  name), 
in  the  family  of  my  uncle,  who  was  a  soar  and  crusty 
specimen  of  human  frailties,    apparently  taking   delight 


14  HIS    EARLY    HISTORY. 

in  every  conceivable  manner  to  impress  upon  me  its 
unwholesome  fruits,  which  if  not  deservedly  measured  out, 
rather  tended  for  the  time  being  to  appease  an  unhal- 
lowed disposition,  at  the  same  time,  doubtless,  endowed 
me  with  the  iron  will  and  constitution  that  my  future 
career  was  destined  to  require.  By  nature  a  modest 
lad,  somewhat  sensitive  withal.  I  was  easily  provok- 
ed,—  not  always  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Bible,  "  to  good  works,"  but  more  in  uni- 
son with  the  disturbed  and  turbulent  feelings  which 
the  training  of  a  hard  master  constantly  instilled  with- 
in me. 

Passing  over  a  few  years  (the  memory  of  which 
presents  no  silver  lining,  and,  from  the  absence  of  in- 
cident, interesting  or  instructive  to  no  one),  I  come 
to  a  more  active  period  in  my  life,  leaving  conjecture 
to  supply  the  interim,  with  the  assurance  that  wh-at- 
ever  of  hard'  lines  the  imagination  may  portray,  the 
picture  will  not  be  overdrawn.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  I  find  myself  chief  mate  of  the  two-masted 
Schooner  Jay,  of  twenty  tons  burden,  commanded  by 
my  guardian  who  was  owner,  sailing-master, and  all  hands, 
excepting  myself,  who,  as  has  already  been  said,  held, 
the  responsible  and  honorable  position  of  mate,  the 
duties  of  which  office,  from  my  experience  along  shore 
in  open  boat,  fishing  &c.,  I  felt  perfectly  qualified  to 
perform.  Though  small  of  stature,  my  healthy  con- 
dition of    body,  as    well    as    natural  aptitude   of  mind 


HIS    EAELY    HISTOSY.  15 

made  up  the  deficiency  of  my  insignificant  proportions 
and  neglected  education. 


CHAPTER  III. 


MY    FIEST    TRIP    FROM    HOME. 


ABOUT  the  middle  of  July,  1804,  very  early  in 
the  morning  was  snugly  lying,  in  the  quiet,  and 
placid  waters  of  the  southern  or  upper  part  of 
the  harbor,  a  neat  little  craft  Her  rigging  was  set  up 
tight,  and  the  silver  beams  of  the  moon  glistening 
upon  the  newly  painted  hull  and  spars,  indicated  to 
the  observer  that  a  voyage  was  contemplated.  The 
vessel  was  almost  land-locked,  by  a  point  making 
out,  dividing  the  waters  of  Katama  Bay  from  our  harbor 
coming  in  close  proximity  with  a  point  reaching  out 
from  the  shore  opposite,  making  it  a  very  desirable 
location  for  safety,  even  in  the  worst  weather.  This 
place  was  called  "  The  Swimming  place, '^  doubtless 
from  its  being  frequently  used  for  the  purpose  of  swim- 
ming cattle  from  one  island  to  the  other.  It  was  on 
board  of  this  vessel  that  I  was  ordered  to  put  the  cargo, 
ready  for  shipment.  My  boyish  imaginations  as  fancy 
pictured  the  prospective  voyage,  imparted  an  excite- 
ment to  the  occasion  long  to  be  remembered,  and-  the 
cargo    consisting  of  quahaugs,  oil,    fish,  and  wool,  was 

16 


MY   FIRST    TRIP    FROM    HOME.  It 

soon  taken  in  and  securely  stowed  away,  when  I 
reported  ready  for  sea.  The  Captain  soon  after  came 
on  board  accompanied  by  two  ladies,  who  sought  pas- 
sage for  New  Haven,  where  we  were  to  market  our 
goods.  All  on  board,  sail  was  soon  made,  our  moor- 
ings loosed,  and  with  a  fair  and  gentle  bi'eeze  our 
home  and  native  village  receded  from  our  view ;  which, 
as  I  had  time  to  reflect  upon  it,  cast  a  slight  shade 
o,f  sadness  on  my  heart.  For,  let  it  be  remembered, 
it  was  the  first  time  leaving  the  spot  endeared  to  me 
by  many  pleasant  memories,  and  a  short  voyage,  even, 
at  that  early  period,  in  so  diminutive  a  craft  as  our 
own,  was  considered  quite  an  undertaking,  while  the 
daring  spirits  accomplishing  it  were  looked  upon  as 
almost  kindred  to  old  Neptune  himself. 

During  the  passage,  which  proved  exceedingly  pleas- 
ant, nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred,  if  we  except  an ' 
occasional  glimpse  of  the  bright  eyes  of  our  lady  pas- 
sengers, as  they  appeared  from  the  cabin  gang-way, 
and  a  little  fright  of  which  the  captain  was  the  inno- 
cent cause.  On  the  night  of  the  first  day  out,  the 
Captain  took  the  early  watch  on  deck,  calling  me  at 
twelve.  The  wind  was  dead  alt,  quite  moderate,  and 
instructing  me  to  keep  off  all  I  could  without  gibing 
he  repaired  to  the  cabin.  The  shores  of  Connecticut 
were  on  our  starboard  beam  ;  the  wind  canting  more 
to  the  southward,  I  kept  off,  and  by  so  doing  obeyed 
orders  and  ran  on  a    ledge    of  rocks.     Finally  beating 


18  MY    riEST    TEIP    FROM    HOME. 

over,  escaped  without  further  damage  than  giving  our 
passengers  a  fright  from  which  they  did  not  wholly 
recover  until  safely  landed  on  the  wharf  at  New  Hav- 
en. After  the  exchange  of  friendly  wishes  and  parting 
salutations,  our  sails  were  furled  and  the  deck  cleared 
for  business.  From  sailors  we  very  soon  became  merch- 
ants, and  when  we  had  exchanged  our  chattels  for 
fruit,  both  from  our  deck  and  sometimes  using  a  ped- 
ler's  wagon,  scouring  the  country  for  purchasers  and 
in  return  taking  country  produce,  we  very  soon  found 
ourselves  in  readiness  to  return.  Nantucket  being  con- 
sidered the  best  place  to  dispose  of  our  goods,  we 
went  thither,  found  a  ready  market,  and  in  less  than 
ten  days  from  the  day  of  our  departure  dropped  anchor 
at  home.  Beside  acting  as  chief  mate  ;  I  was  also 
cook  and  attended  to  the  preparation  of  tlie  table 
generally. 

Now  we  are  ready  to  make  up  another  cargo  or 
freight,  which  is  principally  done  by  catching  jBsh,  in- 
cluding the  bivalves,  or,  as  sometimes  a  good  oppor- 
tunity offers,  they  are  purchased  at  a  low  figure  and 
disposed,  of  in  the  manner  already  mentioned.  Making 
five  or  six  cruises  through  the  season.  I  continued  in 
this  business  during  that  and  the  following  Summer,  not 
always,  however,  going  to  the  same  place  for  custom- 
ers. It  was  on  one  of  these  cruises  that.  I  received 
from  the  hands  of  my  faithful  guardian  the  last  inflic- 
tion of  his  wrath.     And  when    it  occurs    to  memory,  I 


MY   FIRST    TEIP   FROM    HOME  19 

can  scarce  suppress  my  laughter  as  still  I  seem  to  be- 
hold him  in  the  unenviable  plight  my  unrestrained  pas- 
sion placed  him,  when  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  time  had  fully  come  when  good  nature,  or  endur- 
ance, "  ceased  to  be  a  virtue."  I  do  not  remember 
just  what  I  had  done  to  arouse  his  anger,  nor  did  it 
always  need  a  pretext  to  ipsure,  what  he  considered 
a  punishment ;  for  sometimes  I  judged,  he  would  punish 
tor  fear  I  might  need  it  at  some  future  time.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  it  was  while  lying  along  side  a  wharf  in 
Boston,  after  disposing  of  a  load- and  ready  to  return 
homeward.  It  was  Sunday  morning.  Calling  me  aft, 
with  the  end  of  the  draw-bucket  rope  he  commenced 
to  administer  upon  me  in  a  way  not  at  all  pleasing  to 
myself,  nor  gratifying  to  the  bystanders  gazing  with 
wonder  and  amazement  from  the  pier  above,  and  argu- 
ing the  case  with  him.  No  moral  effect  being  attain- 
able as  I  was  able  to  discern,  I  told  him,  clenching 
my  fists,  that  if  he  gave  me  another  blow  I  didn't 
know  but  I  would  be  the  death  of  him.  He  still  ap- 
peared undismayed,  when  quickly  catching  the  rope 
attached  to  the  well  filled  bucket  of  grease  and  water, 
giving  it  a  tremendous  jerk,  I  wholly  disqualified  him 
to  attend  church  with  any  degree  of  decency,  as  his 
light,  tight  pants  strongly  represented  some  dish-cloths 
when  hung  up  to  dry.  While  with  him,  after  that 
time  he  treated  me  more  humanely,  and  when  I  left 
him  to  make  other  and  longer  voyages  we  separated 
in  a  friendly  manner. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A2^0THER   TEIP   TO    COKNTECTICUT. 

ESIDES  our  usual  cargo,  we  had  two  gentlemen 
passengers,  a  man  and  a  boy,  both  from  the 
rural  districts  of  Connecticut.  They  came  in 
search  of  health  along  the  shores  of  the  Vineyard, 
showing  good  sense  there,  if  they  did  not  in  anything 
else.  Had  been  absent  from  home  since  the  Monday  pre- 
vious,(  it  now  being  Friday  ),and  you  can  jud^e  how  very 
desirous  they  were  of  returning  after  such  a  separa- 
ation,  as  also  our  active  measures  to  facilitate  their 
wishes.  As  readily  assumed,  seamanship  had  not  been 
to  any  extent  embraced  in  the  culture  or  education  of 
our  cabin  occupants,  if  they  manifested  a  disposition 
to  remain  in  it,  in  preference  to  appearing  on  deck 
they  certainly  were  excusable,  even  though  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case  required,  for  their  own  safety, 
what  aid  or  assistance  they  might  render. 

Starting  with  a  fair  wind,  we  soon  entered  Vineyard 
Sound,  but  the  weather  changing,  and  a  thick  fog 
coming  in,  we  found  it  absolutely  indispensable  that 
we  should    put    in  to  Tarpaulin  Cove,  a  convenient  re- 

20 


AKOTIIEE   TEIP   TO   CONNECTICUT.  21 

Bort  for  wind-bound  vessels,  on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the 
Sound,  bearing  from  Gay  Head  light  nearly  north. 
Here  we  were  detained  by  a  gale  and  dense  fog  for  a 
number  of  days,  which,  from  the  loneliness  and  dreary 
aspect  of  the  place,  did  not  serve  to  keep  us  in  the 
best  of  spirits.  Fearful  that  lotir  shellfish  would  suffer 
the  consequences  of  our  delay,  it  was  decided  that 
in  case  the  weather  would  not  permit  us  to  prosecute 
the  trip  westward,  to  return  home,  and  by  putting 
them  into  their  native  element,  prolong  their  vitality. 
Early  the  next  morning  made  sail  on  our  craft,  the  Cap- 
tain ordering  me  to  take  the  helm  while  he  catheaded 
the  anchor  and  cleared  up  deck.  Ean  out  of  the  Cove, 
soon  after  discerning,  through  the  fog,  a  ship  on  our 
weather  bow.  "Luffl  Luff!"  cried  I,  "in  accents 
wild,"  as  the  vessel  threatened  to  run  us  down. 
Hauling  off  to  clear  us,  we  forelaid  him,  and  hailing 
asked  him  if  he  wanted  a  pilot.  Instantly  heaving  his 
yards  back,  he  replied,  ( Yankee  like,)  by  asking, 
''where  are  we  now?"  After  giving  the  information 
sought,  we  found  her  to  be  the  Boston-bound  ship  John 
Jay.  The  fog  lifting,  he .  preferred  to  keep  on  and 
procure  a  pilot  after  getting  into  Holmes  Hole,  think- 
ing perhaps  it  could  be  done  for  a  less  sum  than  was 
required  by  our  captain,  viz.:  forty  dollars  to  be  taken 
•to  the  foot  of  Nantucket  shoals.  Hardly  had  he  filled 
away  when  the  fog  again  closed,  perfectly  obscuring 
the  land,  when  rattle,  rattle,  went  his  blocks,  and  with 


22  AlJ^OTHER    TRIP    TO    COXNECTICUT. 

his  yards  the  second  time  aback,  he  hailed  us  to  send  a 
pilot  to  his  relief,  as  he  was  shut  up  in  the  dark.  As 
the  captain  jumped  into  the  boat  to  board,  he  instruct 
ed  me  to  follow  the  ship  to  the  flats  at  the  entrance 
of  our  harbor,  there  to  set  a  signal  for  help  from  shore 
to  get  us  in. 

The  fog  thickened  rather  than  diminished,  while  on 
kept  the  ship,  and  by  not  being  able  to  judge  when  to 
alter  my  course,  followed  until  too  late  to  put  back 
Found  we  had  passed  Cape  Pogue,  and  that  we 
were  in  a  region  of  country  (  if  the  sea  may  be  so 
called,)  where  I  was  entirely  unacquainted.  What 
could  now  be  done  ?  was  the  question  I  asked  myself 
With  the  wind  blowing  a  gale,  it  was  my  only  chance 
to  still  keep  the  ship  in  view,  but  for  the  safety  of 
the  vessel  and  ourselves,  sail  must  be  reduced  or  we 
should  soon  run  under.  An  ugly  sea,  causing  our  lug 
foresail  to  cut  and  slash  in  a  terrible  manner,  demanded 
immediate  attention.  I  called  for  the  passengers  to 
come  and  take  the  helm.  At  first  they  flatly  refused 
but  after  some  n-aughty  words,  their  fears  of  a  watery 
gave,  which  was  eloquently  portrayed,  had  the  efiect 
of  inducing  the  man  to  appear;  and  the  assistance  he 
rendered  doubtless  made  one  less  disaster  af  sea  to  be 
recorded.  The  vessel  being  thus  relieved,  made  better 
weather.  When  I  turned  my  eye  to  where  the  ship 
was  last  observed,  with  dismay  I  found  myself  unable 
to  catch  a  glimpse  of  her.     Now,  thought  I,  we  are  in 


ANOTHER  TRIE  TO  CONNECTICUT.         23 

for  it.  Whether  she  had  kept  on  sailing,  hauled  aback, 
or  changed  her  course,  I  was  unable  to  determine  ; 
and  if  alarm  was  not  depicted  on  my  usually  placid 
countenance  about  that  time,  it  never  was  in  all  my 
life.  And  vain  it  is  to  tell  that  the  face  is  a  true  in- 
dex to  the  emotions  of  one's  heart.  The  fog  apparently 
could  be  sliced  with  a  case  knife,  like  old  cheese, 
which,  from  the  emptiness  of  my  stomach,  having  fasted 
since  the  previous  night,  was  very  suggestive  of  that 
same  article  and  hard-tack  in  the  locker  below,  it  being 
the  usual  rations  in  bad  times  on  board  such  craft. 

Kemembering  the  bearings  of  the  ship  when  last  seen 
followed  in  that  direction,  thinking  that  probably  there 
were  shoals  in  her  way,  which  she  would  have  to  alter 
her  course  to  avoid,  and  thus  first  bringing  upon  our 
own  vessel,  I  could,  not  with  any  degree  of  composure 
await  the  consequences.  For  I  always  had  a  dread  of 
the  water  as  a  beverage,  especially  when  taken  in  too 
large  quantities,  it  generally  giving  me  the  stomach 
ache.  I  felt  that  my  position  was  rather  unenviable, 
every  minute  seemed  an  hour,  and  the  almost  distracted 
groans  and  cries  of  my  companions,  issuing  from  the 
cabin,  did  not  have  a  tendency  to  tranquillize  my  own 
mind,  or  suggest  any  way  of  escape.  In  pity  I  en- 
deavored to  dispel  the  fears  of  the  unfortunate  lands- 
men by  hiding  my  own  as  best  I  could,  till  gladdened 
by  the  ship  heaving  in  sight,  right  ahead,  with  her 
sails  clewed  up,  waiting  for  our  approach      Ascertain- 


24  a:n-other  trip  to  cokn-ectiout 

ing  where  we  were,  the  ship  gradually  kept  on.  After- 
wards did  not  lose  sight  of  her  until  after  going  along 
side  and  receiving  our  captain,  who,  after  being  paid 
off,  gave  the  commander  of  the  ship  the  course  from 
Nantucket,  bade  him  a  prosperous  passage  and  joined 
our  own  craft  again.  He  received  for  his  services 
f  irty-tLree  dollars,  overrunning  the  amount  charged  by 
three  .dollars,  which  I  thought  ought  to  have  been 
given  to  me.  But  my  uncle  "  did  not  see  it  in  that 
light/' 

Hauling  sharp  on  the  wind,  beat-  all  that  night  and 
till  nearly  dark,  of  the  next  day,  when  we  ran  safely 
into  our  snug  little  harbor,  and  took  out  our  shell-fish, 
to  recruit  their  energies  Our  passengers  went  up  to 
the  old  tavern,  only  too  glad  to  tread  terra  firma  once 
more.  They  didn't  care  whether  school  kept  or  not. 
One  week  after,  we  resumed  the  voyage  with  better 
success,  landing  our  passengers  in  safety,  and,  as  be- 
fore, disposing  of.  our  freight  to  good  advantage, 
making  a  very  profitable  cruise,  with  the  exception  of 
frightening  me  so  decidedly  that  it  required  thirty 
years  of  after  life  to  regain  my  growth.  Shortly  after, 
the  schooner  Betsey  &  Polly  returning  from  a  fishing 
voyage  up  the  Straits,  with  a  cargo  of  salted  fish,  I 
accepted  the  chance  to  cook  for  the  party  who  were 
employed  to  cure  them,  which  was  done  at  a  place 
called  Pond  Lot,  where  a  gravelly  beach  was  handy 
for  spreading,    etc.     In   the   Winter  that  followed,  my 


ANOTHER   TRIP  TO  CONXECTICUT.  25 

time  was  variously  occupied  ;  more  particularly  in  the 
eeling  business,  in  which  a  great  deal  of  jobbing  is 
done,  though  not  in  those  days  requiring  quite  the 
muscle  as  at  present,  it  being  followed  simply  to  satisfy 
the  immediate  demands  of  hunger,  instead  of  furnish- 
ing an  article  of  export. 

Spring  approaching,  feeling  that  the  recompense 
heretofore  received  was  not  according  to  the  views  of 
ray  ambition,  I  decided  to  ship  on  board  some  other 
craft,  and  carve  out  my  fortune  on  my  own  hook. 
An  opportunity  soon  presented,  and  the  parties  to 
whom  my  plans  were  made  known,  being  acquainted 
with  my  abilities,  were  quite  desirous  to  make  me  the 
offer  of  cook's  berth,  on  board  the  standing  topsail 
schooner  Nancy,  of  43  tons,  bound  to  the  coast  of 
Labrador  on  a  fishing  expedition,  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Lot  Norton,  with  a  crew  of  eight  men,  beside 
myself;  an  account  of  which  you  shall  have  forthwith. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A   CRXnSE    TO   LABRADOR. 

UR  small  stores  on  board  the  schooner,  the  fish- 
ing tackle  in  apple-pie  order,  and  the  salt  for 
curing  the  fish  we  anticipated  catching,  in  the 
hold,  with  the  wind  south-west,  we  set  sail  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  first  of  May.  A  thick  fog  enveloped  us, 
but  lifting  as  we  came  up  with,  or  in  the  vicinity  of 
Nantucket  Point,  from  which  our  departure  was 
made.  For  the  five  days  following  we  were  prevent- 
ed by  thick  weather  from  getting  an  observation,  strong 
westerly  and  north  winds  prevaling.  The  schooner  was 
a  terrible  hard  craft  to  steer,  requiring  almost  the 
strength  of  a  Goliah  to  keep  her  under  subjection, 
and  making  rather  uncertain  at  times  the  exact  dis- 
tance run  or  course  followed.  At  night  of  the  fifth 
day  out,  our  skipper  remarked  that  at  two  o'clock 
the  next  day  his  reckonings  would  be  up,  and  we 
should  be  ashore  on  Cape  Race,  Newfoundland,  which 
caused  much  uneasiness  among  the  crew  as  they 
were  not  desirous  that  the  voyage,  should  terminate 
in  just  such  a  manner.  At  one  o'clock,  however,  we 
discovered  right  ahead  of  us  two  boats,  which  proved 
to  be  fishermen  from  a  vessel  lying  in  the  harbor  of 
Cape  Race.     Getting  near  enough,  we  hailed  them  and 


A    CRUISE    TO   LABRADOR.  21 

inquired  how  soon  they  intended  to  go  in.  "  We  do 
not  care  how  soon/^  was  the  reply.  Upon  being  in- 
vited to  come  on  board  they  immediately  complied, 
smelling,  no  doubt,  the  glass  of  grog  they  expected  to 
get,  —  this  pleasing  incident,  in  the  recognized  custom 
of  those  days,  warranting  such  an  indulgence.  It  did 
not  prove  an  illusion  of  the  brain ;  the  bottle  was 
passed,  and  ''a  nipper  all  round''  made  us  feel  "as 
young  as  we  used  to  be."  So,  finding  that  our  cal- 
culations did  not  vary  thirty  minutes,  to  the  honor  of 
those  who  had  the  navigation  of  the  vessel  in  charge 
the  whole  sail  from  our  leaving  port  being  accomplished 
in  weather  thick  as  mud.  With  the  boats  in  tow,  soon 
squared  away  for  the  harbor,  where  we  found  our 
neighbors  and  enjoyed  with  them  a  good  "  gam," 
imparting  to  them  the  latest  home  intelligence,  and 
enjoying  the  short  season  together  satisfactorily. 

There  is  much  of  sameness  in  the  experience  of  the 
'Labrador  fishermen,  and  writers  have  so  often  detailed 
those  interesting  cruises,  that  I  will  not  weary  you 
now  with  a  recital  of  the  full  particulars  relating  to 
them.  Suffice  it  to  say,  after  remaining  here  two  or 
three  days,  our  course  was  continued,  making  the  Bay 
of  Islands  for  boats  masts,  wood  &c.,  from  there  to 
Shallow  Bay,  remaining  a  while,  then  crossing  the 
straits  .to  a  place  called  Dog  Island,  where  our  fishing 
commenced.  Here  we  fell  in  with  a  number  of  our 
towns  people,  which  gave  the  place  an  air  of  pleasant- 


28  A    CRUISE      TO    LABEADOR. 

ry  as  often  we  came  together  and  talked  of  home  and 
the  loved  ones.     One  day,  in  company  with    the  boats 
of  the   topsail    scooner  Betsy  and  Polly,    went    out  to 
try  our  luck.     Moored  our  boats    to  a  rock  which  pro- 
jected out  of  water,  while  the  boats  of  the  other  vesels 
anchored    off.     We    would    talk  and    pass    jokes    very 
freely,  until  almost  unconsciously  to  ourselves  our  boats 
were  quite  laden  with    fish  ;  and    by  this    time,  too,  a 
considerable  swash    was   caused    by  the    rising    wind, 
which  somewhat  hastened  our  movements  in  letting  go 
our    moorings    and    regaining  the    vessel.     It    was  not 
long    be  lore    other    boats  were    coming,  but    observing 
that  there  was  one    less  than  there    was  before  on  the 
fishing  ground,  from  its  absence  it  was    feared    that  it 
had    been    swamped,    which    proved   true.     The    occut 
pants  of   the  lost    boat    were    one    white    man    and  a 
deaf    and    dumb  negro,  both    finding    a  watery  grave, 
where  no  memorial  will  ever  be  erected  to  mark    their 
last  resting-place.     Continued  in  this  vicinity   until  the 
fish  struck  eastward,  when  we  followed  them,  entering 
a  harbor  called  Nancy  Belong,  hard    by  a  village  con- 
sisting of    a  few    huts  occupied    by    Canadians :    both 
.English    and  Americans    having   the    right  to  cast  line 
in  these  waters.     Up  to  this  time  we  had   taken    about 
six  hundred  quintal  of    cod    fish,  making    them  on  the 
rocks   at    Brador    Basin,  and    readily    selling    them  at 
three    dollars    per    quintal    to    vessels    bound    to     the 
Mediterranean.     We    came  home    in    ballast.     Getting 


A     CEFISE     TO     LABKADOE.  29 

back  as  far  as  Bay  of  Islands,  the  wind  came  out 
ahead,  blowing  so  hard  that  we  made  a  harbor  where 
we  remained  a  few  days.  In  some  hurry  to  get  home, 
and  the  wind  lessening,  thought  to  gain  a  little  to 
windward.  Hove  short  and  got  sail  on  her,  making 
a  long  leg  and  a  short  one  back.  Being  a  remarkably 
dull  sailor  and  the  wind  greatly  increasing,  it  was  soon 
discovered  to  be  necessary  to  shorten  sail.  Heading 
her  in  shore,  we  fell  to  leeward  of  the  port  we  had 
left,  and  in  order  to  make  a  harbor  which  our  safety 
demanded,  were  compelled  to  run  dead  to  the  leeward 
eighty  miles!  This  was  getting  home  with  a  vengance. 
"  But  such  was  life  I  often  had  been  told.  And  found 
it  even  so  while  I've  been  growing  old."  The  wind 
coming  in  our  favor,  we  made  another  start  and  arrived 
off  Halifax,  when  very  suddenly  a  gale  even  more 
severe  than  the  first  threatened  to  give  us  an  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  our.  compliments  personally  to  Davy 
Jones.  We  hove  to  under  close  sail,  and  the  wind 
began  to  slacken,  finally  dying  away  to  a  calm,  the 
old  swell  causing  us  to  rock  fearfully.  The  deck 
watch  thought  best  to  call  all  hands  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  enough  sail  on  her  to  steady  her.  The  call 
was  made,  but  before  they  had  time  to  get  upon  deck, 
a  heavy  roll  to  windward  brought  us  just  right  to  let 
a  sea  board  us,  taking  off  quarter  rails,  stanchions,  and 
completely  sweeping  the  decks  smashing  in  the  dead- 
lights, staving  the  boats^  and  breaking  things  generally. 


30  A    CEUISE     TO     LABRADOR. 

The  cabin  was  almost  filled  with  water,  and  the  men 
on  deck  only  saved  themselves  by  clutching  the  tiller 
and  crutch-ropes  aft.  We  soon  made  sail,  cleared  the 
wreck,  and  with  a  moderate  breeze,  after  a  tedious 
passage  of  forty  days,  arrived  in  Boston,  getting  our 
drafts  honored  at  mercantile  houses  of  that  city.  Then 
deturned  to  Edgartown  where  the  vessel  was  refitted 
by  Capt.  T.  Jernegan,  a  merchant  of  some  reputation 
and  a  citizen  of  the  place.  Thus  ended  my  first  voyage 
to  sea,  and  my  share  of  the  proceeds  amounted  to 
the  no  meagre  sum  of  thirty-two  dollars  of  as  good 
money  as  the  country  afforded,  and  as  a  present  for 
good  behavior  one  hundred  and  twelve  pounds  dried 
cod,  besides  giving  me  an  air  of  independence  I  had 
never  before  fully  appreciated,  which  no  doubt,  boy- 
like, was  exhibited  to  the  best  advantage,  especially 
when  entertaining  ready  listeners  with  the  remarkable 
incidents  and  hair-breadth  escapes  consequent  to  a 
life   on   the   ocean  wave: 

Where  the  blue  waters  leap, 
While  our  watch  we  keep, 
And  the  gallant  old  ship 
Ploughs  he  furrows  so  deep. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

SECOND     VOYAGE     TO     THE     STRAITS. 

XN  the  balmy  month  of  May,  the  Spring-  follow- 
ing, I  shipped,  on  board  the  fore-topsail  Schooner 
Franklin,  of  ninety  tons  burthen  Capt  Timothy 
Daggett  commanding.  As  was  the  usual  custom,  the 
vessel  was  taken  to  Boston  for  her  outfit,  her  crew 
of  eleven,  men  accompanying  her,  and  on  the  tenth 
of  the  month  cleared  for  another  cruise  to  the  Straits, 
AV anting  masts,  spreets  &c,,  for  our  boats,  and  fuel 
for  cookinp;  purposes,  after  a  good  run  put  into  Bay 
of  Islands  for  a  supply  ;  thence  to  Shallow  Bay,  eighty 
miles-,  in  a  northeast  course  where  we  cast  anchor. 
Here  we  fell  in  with  Scliooner  Resolution,  of  Derby, 
Connecticut,  under  the  command  of  James  Stewart, 
who  also  was  from  the  Vinej'ard.  The  crews  of  both 
vessels  went  on  shore,  and  in  the  course  of  our 
rambles  over  this  uninhabited  part,  of  creation  we 
suddenly  came  upon  a  newly-made  grave.  Some  curi- 
osity was  manifested  and  no  little  fear  was  traceable 
on  the  countenances  of  our  companions,  as  one  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the  inscription  attached  to  the  head- 
board,   which    revealed    the    fact    that    the    occupant 

31 


32    '  SECOND    VOYAGE    TO    THE    STP.AITS. 

of  this  lonely  burial  place  was  a  victim  to  the 
uncurbed  wrath  of"  a  mulatto  who  had  been  living  with 
this  individual  and  his  brother,  while  spending  the 
season  just  past,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  moose, 
fox  and  other  game,  of  which  there  was  an  abundance. 
We  afterward  learned  that  the  murderer  was  caught 
and,  contrary  to  the  present  manner  of  disposing  of 
such  unmitigated  criminals,  was  dealt  with  according 
to  the  justice  of  a  death  sentence. 

As  total  abstinence  was  not  in  those  days  a  prevail- 
ing virtue,  it  v\^as  not  strange  that  among  tlie  crews 
of  these  vessels  were  to  be  found  men,  who  sometimes 
indulged  with  no  slight  degree  of  freedom  in  those 
beverages  so  well  calculated  to  destroy  their  usefulness, 
filching  from  them  every  high  and-  noble  aspiration 
which  the  Creator  intended  for  a  more  elevating  pur- 
pose than  the  simple  gratification  of  an  appetite,  pro- 
ductive of  results  alike  fatal  to  ones-self  and  to  "those 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  While  on  shore,  the 
"Little  Brown  Jug''  (doubtless  a  near  relative  to  that 
alluded  to  in  the  popular  song  of  that  name),  was 
£  often  consulted,  its  contents  imparthig  to  the  men  a 
slightly  elevated  sensation,  which  enabled  them  to  see 
things  ill  a  very  different  light  than  they  really  existed. 
Thus  we  readily  account  for  a  fright  quite  a  number 
of  our  men  experienced,  and  which  came  near  termi- 
nating in  a  tragical  manner.  One  of  the  crew  (in  after 
life    familiarly    known    as  Uncle  Lot),  who,  unlike    his 


SECOND    VOYAGE    TO    THE    STllAITS.  33 

namesake  of  ancient  days,  was  possessed  of  a  compan- 
ion who  was  never  known  to  look  back,  but  with  liim 
met  the  struggle  of  life  with  an  unyielding  decision 
and  determination  ;  while  for  many  years  of  their  de- 
clining life  their  lamps  were  trimmed  and  burning, 
guiding  the  tempest-tossed  mariner  in  safety  to  a  desired 
haven,  as  gladly  to  the  sailor's  gaze.  Cape  Pogue 
lighthouse  sends  its  glimmering  beams  over  the  waters 
of  Vineyard  Sound. 

'  But  returning  to  "the  thread  of  our  discourse,"  as 
a  good  brother  sometimes  expresses  himself.  Uncle 
Lot  going  in  land  in  advance  of  his  companions,  being 
rather  of  a  fun-loving  disposition,  fully  in  the  belief 
that  "  a  good  joke  now  and  then  is  relished  by  the 
best  of  men,'^  and  therefore  not  a  criminal  offence, 
thought  he  would  try  what  effect  a  little  one  might 
have.  Secreting  himself  behind  some  vines  and  bushes 
near  a  number  of  trees,  which  he  judged  his  ship- 
mates would  soon  attempt  to  cut  down,  divesting  him* 
self  of  his  coat,  pants  and  hat,  bringing  his  red  flan- 
nel shirt  and  drawers  in  view  and  drawing  over  his 
face  and  head  a  bright  crimson  bandanna,  he  lay 
perfectly  quiet  awaiting  the  approach  of  his  victims. 
Presently  advancing  foptsteps  were  heard,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  the  work  of  chopping  began,  a  portion 
of  the  men  only  waiting  as  lookers-on,  intending  to 
assist  in  conveying  the  wood  to  the  boats  when  it  was  in 
readiness.     Suddenly  rising  from  his  ambush  and  shout- 


34  SECOND    YOYAGE    TO    THE    STEAITS. 

ing  in  imitation  of  the  wild  Indian  whoop,  he  startled 
them  most  fearfully.  Quickly  gathering  (not  the  wood), 
but  their  remaining  strength  for  a  stampede,  they  cried 
aloud  "  Eed  Indians!  red  Indians!  help  I  help  !  and 
made  for  the  shore,  one  of  the  party  covering  his  re- 
treat with  a  heavily  loaded  shot-gun,  of  which,  in  case 
the  supposed  foe  had  been  found  to  be  gaining  on 
him,  he  would  not  have  hesitated  in  lending  him  the 
contents.  The  boats  gained,  no  time  was  lost  in  re- 
gaining the  vessel,  where  they  were  assisted  on  board 
so  pale  and  terrified,  there  nearest  relations  would 
hardly  have  recognized  them.  At  the  dinner-table  the 
story  was  related,  and  when  at  last  the  cause  of  so 
much  trouble  was  found  to  be  a  little  joke  of  Uncle 
Lot's,  a  hearty  laugh  went  round  and  good  cheer  was 
contagious. 

The  night  following  the  day  so  propitious  "for  the 
race"  was  very  calm;  the  vessels  lay  within  a  cable's 
length  of  each  other,  which,  as  it  was  dead  low  water, 
brought  us  very  near  the  shore.  By  and  by  the  silence 
which  reigned  around  was  disturbed,  as  the  rattling 
of  stones  on  shore  and  the  apparent  moving  of  the 
hulk  of  an  old  boat  seemed  to  indicate  something 
approaching,  which  readily  suggested^  to  our  already 
excited  imaginations  the  certainty  that  the  Indians 
were  about  to  attack  us.  Fully  armed  to  repel  board- 
ers, anxiously  we  awaited  their  arrival  until  the  day 
dawned ;  when    hastily  our    anchors    were    taken,  and 


SECOND    VOYAGE    TO    THE    STRAITS.  35 

with  our  boats  we  towed  ont  to  sea,  preferring  to  trust 
ourselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  ocean  than  to  fall  into 
the  clutches  of  a  merciless  foe.  We-  afterwards  felt 
somewhat  chagrined  to  learn  that  our  fears  were 
entirely  groundless,  being  caused  simply  by  the  sci-atch- 
ing  of  birds,  industriously  seeking  crabs  and  otlier 
nutriment  on  which  they  subsisted,  oi\]y  being  able  to 
procure  them  when  the  tide  was  out.  We  went  on 
our  way  rejoicing  Arriving  after  a  three  da^^s  passage 
at  Brador  Gulch,  where  fishing  commenced,  and  we 
procured  two-thirds  of  a  fare,  the  fish  striking  to  the 
Eastward  soon  after.  We  followed  on  to  Red  Bay  and 
completed  the  voyage,  having  a  favorable  passage  of 
ten  days,  curing  our  fish  in  part,  at  or  near  where 
now  reaches  out  in  the  waters  of  Katama  Bay,  the 
favorite  lauding  for  the  thousands  who  come  to  enjoy 
its  quiet  scenes,  and  reap  the  benefit  of  the  refreshing 
seaside  facilities  so  abundantly  afi*orded.  So  terminates 
another  voyage  at  sea,  for  which  I  was  paid  off  at  the 
rate  of  ten  dollars  per  month,  thus  enabling  me  to 
give  to  my  dear  old  mother  forty  dollars  as  a  little 
present,  which  was  very  acceptable,  for  I,  being  the 
eldest  of  the  children,  it  was  but  little  the  others  could 
do,  and  every  item  that  I  was  competant  to  add  to 
the  treasury  was  carciully  and  judiciously  invested. 
With  feelings  of  mingled  pride  and  gratitude  does 
memory  of  the  past  (associated  with  the  warm,  affec- 
tion and  reverential  awe  which  I   ever  felt  for  my  pa- 


36  SECOND    YOTAGE    TO    THE    STKAITS. 

rents)  even  now,  when  trembling  limbs  and  silver  locks 
remind  me  that  the  voyage  of   life  will  soon    be  over, 
gild  the  horizon  of  my  declining  sun  with  the  hope  of 
at  last    gaining  a  safe  anchorage. 
"  Near  that  blessed  shore 
Where  tempests  ne'er  break 
Or  billows  roar." 


.% 


CHAPTER  YII. 

SHIPWRECK    OF    THE     ELIN"OB. 

'AKING  a  short  stay  on  shore,  joiDod  the  sloop 
Elinor,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  freighting  flour  and 
grain  from  Troy  and  Albany  to  Boston, 
continued  in.  the  same  employment  on  board  this  craft 
for  three  seasons.  Late  in  the  Fall,  after  putting  the 
vessel  in  good  condition  for  the  rough  coasting  in 
the  inclement  weather  of  an  aproaching  Winter,  was 
loaded  at  New  York  with  a  cargo  of  flour,  cheese, 
and  dead  hogs,  for  the  Boston  market.  At  one 
o'clock  P.  M.  we  left  port.  A  strong  westerly  wind, 
or  rather  gale  it  might  better  be  called,  brought  us 
down  L.  I.  Sound  a  humming,  though  able  to  carry 
but  little  sail.  It  getting  to  be  nearly  dark,  we 
judged  the  course  steared  would  clear  Block  Island, 
hut  the  mainsail  being  on '  the  port  side,  our  craft 
stole  to  windward  of  her  course,  and  before  we 
had  time  to  haul  off'  shore  after  making  the  discovery, 
to  our  horror  fetched  up  on  the  rocks  boimding  the 
north  west  point  of  Block  Island.  Immediately  jib- 
bing the  mainsail   and  giving  her   a    part  of  the  jib, 

37 


da  SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    ELIXOE. 

she  forged  over,  and  before  the  main  sheet  could  be 
hauled  aft  struck  hard  and  fast  on  the  bar  inside  the 
point,  thumping  heavily,  she  soon  bilged  and  began 
to  break  up.  It  was  very  rough,  the  sea  making  a 
clean  breach  over  us,  but  the  buom  being  in  shore 
heeled  her  that  way,  making  it  possible  for  us  to 
save  ourselves,  which  at  first  looked  rather  dubious. 
Bitter  cold,  as  it  was,  our  boats  riddled  the  dead-lights 
broken  in,  and  the  cabin  .  fast  filling  with  water,  our 
escape  from  an  ocean  grave  would  seem  almost  a 
miracle.  Until  daylight  approached  we  stood  in  the 
water.  Then  warned  by  our  bottomless  wreck  that 
what  we  were  to  do  to  save  ourselves  must  be  done 
speedily,  we  crawled  upon  deck  to  take  a  survey,  and 
discovered  a  man  upon  the  beach  who  informed  us, 
that  as  it  was  now  low  water,  we  must  efiect  a  land- 
ing immediately  or  not  at  all.  Our  complement  of 
men  consisted  of  five,  each  of  whom  was  considering 
the  surest  way  to  extricate  himself  from  the  threaten- 
ing danger.  The  ground  froze  as  fast  as  the  water 
receded,  and  you  may  judge  how  soft  was  the  landing, 
as  we  swung  from  the  weather  rail  toward  the  shore, 
by  the  jib  haliards,  letting  go  our  hold  when  over- 
reaching the  water,  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  in  the  air. 
I^  this  manner  we  all  succeeded  in  landing  safely, 
with  the  exception  of  several  severe  bruises,"  which 
were  constant  reminders  of  that  unfortunate  cruise  for 
many  long    days  and  nights    after.     But    getting   from 


SHIPWRECK    OF    THE  ELINOR.  39 

the  wreck  was  not  destined  to  end  our  grief  or  con- 
summate our  troubles.  Observing  some  mile  and  a  half 
inland  a  residence,  we  started  for  it,  but  soon  came 
to  a  pond  frozen  over,  wiiich  we  preferred  to  cross 
rather  than  go  around,  as  the  incessant  cold  was  fast 
benumbing  us.  Had  proceeded  to  near  the  middle 
of  it,  when  it  began  to  crack,  and  finally  let  us  in  al- 
together. As  fast  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
would  permit,  we  fought  our  way  to  the  shore  nearest 
the  house,  upon  reaching  which,  its  hospitable  doors 
were  opened  and  a  cordial  invitation  was  extended  to 
enter.  We  were  not  slow  in  accepting.  A  cheerful 
fire  and  warm  drink  soon  made  us  quite  comfortable, 
and  before  many  hours  "  Richard  was  himself  again.'' 
After  a  good  night's  rest  we  repared  to  the  beach,  and 
succeeded  in  saving  a  few  articles  of  our  personal 
effects,  as  well  as  small  quantities  of  the  freight. 
With  the  spars  and  sails,  the  latter  was  sold,  and  to 
the  families  who  had  so  generously  entertained  us  we 
gave  the  hull  of  the  craft. 

The  severe  weather  detained  us  upon  the  island  for 
three  weeks,  when  we  were  taken  away  by  a  little 
Pilot  Boat  bound  to  and  belonging  in  Holmes  Hole. 
We  anticipated  a  short  run  downthe  Sound,  but  when 
only  half  the  distance  to  Gay  Head  had  been  accom- 
plished, a  strong  gale  arising,  were  compelled  to  scud 
for  a  lee  port,  which  we  made  at  Stonington,  waiting 
one  week  for    a  favorable    opportunity.     Got  home  all 


40  SHIPWRECK  OF    THE  ELINOR. 

right  at  last.  As  freighting  was  now  quite  dull  on 
account  of  the  embargo,  and  wages  consequently  low, 
I  thought  best  to  remain  ashore,  which  I  did,  working 
a  little  here  and  there  until  the  Winter  wore  away. 
When  Spring  opened,  the  herring  fishery  of  our  own 
island  affording  something  better  than  idleness,  I  turned 
my  attention  to  that  interest.  And,  by  the  way,  I 
will  try  to  give  you  a  slight  description  of  this  ancient 
enterprise,  and  moreover  tell  you  how  it  has  come  to 
pass  that  the  Old  Mattakusett  has  "gone  up.'' 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A   riSHERT    OF    OLDEaST    TEMES    DESCEIBED. 

IKE  mostt)f  the  inlets,  ponds,  coves  and  villages, 
the  fishery  alluded  to,  bears  an  Indian  cognomen, 
and  without  doubt  Mr.  Indian  had  an  interest  in 
the  so-called  Mattakeesett  Creek  previous  to  the  set- 
tlement of  the  island  by  the  whites.  At  any  rate,  the 
oldest  inhabitant  cannot  remember  when  its  running 
waters  did  not  invite  the  finny  tribe  to  its  precincts, 
though  it  has  long  since  changed  almost  for  its  entire 
length.  Running  parallel  with  the  south  beach  for  a 
gon  distance,  the  surge  of  the  broad  Atlantic  con-- 
Istantly  narrowing  the  space  between  shore  and  creek 
it  has  been  filled  up  many  times,  and  re-dug  furtlicr 
north-east,  until  any  traces  of  the  old  Indian  property 
would  be  difficult  to  find.  For  many  years  afterward 
it  was  considered  personal  property,  and  whosoever 
owned  a  share  therein  was  considered  a  fortunate  man, 
for  in  it  he  saw  something  strongly  resembling  the 
"  Widow's  Cruise, '^  of  oil,  which  could  not  fail. 
Happy,  indeed,  was  the   individual  who    owned  "  £wo- 

41 


42  A  FISHERY  OF  OLDEX  TIMES  DESCEIBED. 

sixths,"  for  that  was  ahnost    a    competency,  especially 
if  the  season  was  a  fortunate  one. 

Fishing  in  this  creek,  was,  early  in  its  history,  re- 
duced to  a  system  by  the  fathers,  from  which  the  sons 
have  never  materially  departed.  The  ownership  of  the 
property  once  fully  established,  it  was  sufficiently  se- 
cured against  any  encroachments,  and  in  just  propor- 
tions was  dealt  out  each  person's  share  of  the  catch, 
after  necessary  expenses  attending  the  same  were  de- 
ducted. The  whole  interest  was  divided  into  quarters^ 
each  quarter  bearing  a  name  by  which  it  was  always 
recognized,  viz.;  Jenkin's,  Plain,  Town,  aud  Chappa- 
quidic ;  each  using  twenty-four  hours  as  they  came, 
respectively.  Each  quarter  was  divided  and  sub-divided, 
even  to  sixty-fourths,  thereby  giving  to  the  owners  of 
a  sixty-fourth,  one  fish  out  of  every  sixty-four  taken." 
and  so  proportionately  those  representing  a  larger 
share.  Each  full  share,  (that  is,  every  sixth,)  was 
supposed  to  provide  a  man  to  represent  it.  Others  ap- 
pearing and  tendering  their  services,  were  termed 
"  Reformators."  Why  such  a  name  was  thus  applied 
has  always  remained  a  secret,  unless  it  was  that  per- 
sons who  were  accustomed  to  miugle  there  having 
become  somewhat  demoralized,  it  was  thought  best  to 
give  them  the  benefit  of  outside  influence.  Be  it  so  or 
not,  they  were  usually  compensated,  (prior  to  the  di- 
vision being  made,)  by  the  Agent,  in  council  with  the 
proprietors,    deciding    how  many  herring    were .  justly 


A    FISHERY  OF  OLDEX  TIMES  DESCRIBED.  43 

due.  The  number  being  named,  they  were  instructed 
to  do  their  own  counting ;  and  frequently  being  very 
poor  at  figures,  the  bag  was  filled  without  regard  to 
accuracy ;  requiring  two  or  three  men  to  handle  it, 
when,  if  no  error  existed  in  the  count,  a  small  boy 
could  easily  have  shouldered  it.  But  such  is  life;  we 
have  had  Reform ators  in  every  age. 

Six  nets  were  generally  used  in  catching,  three  on 
each  side  of  the  creek,  between  which  boards  placed 
edgeways  divided  the  passage  of  the  waters  in  the 
middle,  jit  the  weirs,  the  creek  was  some  seven  or 
eight  feet  wide.  Near  by,  on  the  bank,  were  large 
boxes,  capable  of  containing  sixty  barrels  of  fish  each, 
which  sometimes  had  to  be  emptied  to  make  room  for 
those  taken  later.  They  were  removed  from  the  boxes, 
or  "  kids  "  as  they  are  denominated  by  the  fishermen, 
in  half-barrel  strap  tubs  and  credited  to  the  different 
shares,  the  account  of  which  was  chalked  down  on  the 
tail-board  of  somebody's  cart,  usually  by  the  agent  of 
the  Quarter.  Opposite  the  net-handles  were  small 
houses  which  in  bad  weather  .were  very  convenient. 
These  were  designated  "  Ballicators."  Here,  too,  I 
am  in  the  dark  for  an  explanation,  after  swallowing 
"  Webster  on  "a  bridge."  If  any  of  you  should  at  any 
future  period  make  a  dictionary,  3^ou  will  confer  a  great 
favor  by  defining  in  it  the  word  "  Ballicator."  The 
houses  resembled,  and  were  quite  suggestive  of,  sentry 
boxes  as  seen  upon  a  fort,  capable  of  seating  one  man 


44  A  FISHERY  OF  OLDEX  TIMES  DE3CEIBED 

and  affording  a  shelter  from  wind  and  rain. 

It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for.  disputes  to  arise 
in  regard  to  the  division  of  the  fish,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  the  disputants  would  engage  in  a  fist  fight,  until 
one  or  more  would  (accidently  of  course)  be  tumbled 
into  the  water,  thereby  getting  cooled  off,  when  busi- 
ness would  be  resumed.  The  first  catch  of  the  season 
began  as  early  as  March,  continuing  until  June  when- 
the  fish  that  had  escaped  the  vigilance  of  the  fisher 
men,  or  had  been  allowed  to  pass  unmolested  between 
sunset  of  Saturday  night  and  the  same  hoar  of  Sunday, 
having  deposited  their  spawn  in  the  fresh  ponds  above, 
came  down  on  their  passage  to  the  sea.  Often  thirty 
or  even  forty  men  and  boys  might  be  seen  in  and 
around  the  creekdiouse,  ready  to  do  whatever  offered 
in  catching,  dividing,  &c,  sometimes  securing  from 
three  to  four  hundred  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours,  at 
which  time  these  men  would  leave,  giving  room  for 
the  next  party  to  commence  operations.  When  so 
man}^  fish  were  taken,  it  was  attended  with  a  degree 
of  excitement  which  at  times  was  quite  animating  ;  and 
this  fishery  being  the  most  celebrated  artifical  one  in 
the  country,  it  often  attracted  visitors  from  abroad, — 
ladies  as  well  as  gentlemen.  Moreover,  the  road  lead- 
ing thereto,  across  the  Great  Plains,  furnished  a  most 
desirable  ride  in  pleasant  weather,  giving  to  strangers 
an  opportunity  (which  they  appeared  fully  to  appreci- 
ate) of  walking    on  the  surf-bound  shores  of  the  xA-tlan- 


A   FISHERY    OF    OLDEX    TIMES    DESCRIBED.  45 

tic,  beholding  its  beauty,  and  majesty  as  mountains 
high  it  rolled  its  gigantic  waves  far  up  the  beach. 

When,  as  frequently  was  the  case,  the  fish  showed 
no  disposition  to  run  up,  in  latter  years  (more  especi- 
ally) long  sticks  were  used  in  driving  them,  requiring 
considerable  skill  to  do  it  successfully.  At  these  times 
there  was  a  King,  who,  with  his  long  booted  subjects, 
would  quietly  go  to  where  the  creek  emptied  into  the 
salt-water,  and  when  any  considerable"  number  entered 
a  rush  was  made,  and  their  retreat  was  cut  oiF,by  placing 
very  deep  nets  across  the  creek.  Then  the  pounding 
and  splashing  would  finally  persuade  the  fish  to  go  up, 
rather  than  have  the  life  pelted  out  of  them.  Some- 
times getting  very  thick  together,  the  fish,  (apparently 
in  a  flurry),  would  all  with  one  accord  make  a  bee 
line  for  the  nets  above,  raising  the  water  in  advance 
of  them,  all  foaming  nearly  a  foot  high.  Now,  for  a 
time,  the  sight  is  novel,  indeed.  Perhaps  in  less  time 
than  it  requires  to  describe  it,  twenty  or  thirty  barrels 
are  secured.  The  habits  of  the  fish  are  very  regular. 
They  will  not  enter  tlie  creek  only  at  particular  times, 
not  even  obeying  the  mandates  of  the  King,  who  has 
probably  had  to  do  with  more  herring  than  any  other 
man  in  the  whole  country,  he  having  given  them  some 
awful  smokings.  When  the  fish  do  not  appear  there  is 
but  little  work  done.  Then  it  is  that  the  evil  one  finds 
any  quantity  of  mischief  for  idle  hands  to  do. 

The  house    alluded    to    was   roughly    furnished    with 


46  A   FISHERY    OF    OLDEN    TIMES    DESCEIBED. 

berths  of  hard  pme,  also  long*  plank  seats,  both  of 
which  were  used  by  the  sleepy  ones  to  stretch  out 
upon,  when  the  floor  was  not  preferred  or  considered 
most  safe,  as  sometimes  accidents  happen  in  the  house 
as  well  as  in  the  open  air.  As  it  frequently  proved, 
sleeping  was  not  an  indulgence  much  courted  by  the 
denizens  of  this  favorite  resort.  The  uninitiated,  how- 
ever, overcome  by  weariness,  almost  unconsciously, 
would  sometimes  find  a  little  nap  disturbed  by  the  loud 
shouts  and  boisterous  laughter  of  a  jolly  crowd,  who 
very  innocently  were  gazing  on  a  countenance  well 
begrimed  with  lamp-black.  At  another  time  some  vic- 
tim would  be  aroused  from  the  land  of  bright  dreams, 
feeling  a  disagreeable  sensation  of  suffocation,  caused 
by  the  chimney-top  being  filled  with  hay  or  other 
stuffing,  preventing  the  natural  escape  of  smoke  from 
the  fire-place  below.  At  such  times  the  individual 
victimized  would  make  a  dash  for  the  door,  only  to  be 
confronted  by  some  hideous  or  ghostly  figure,  or  per- 
haps to  fall  headlong  into  the  half-hogshead  of  slime 
and  water,  so  disposed  that  to  shun  it  was  impossible. 
Occasionally  one  might  find  himself  elevated,  or  sus- 
pended by  his  heels  to  the  rafters  or  beam  girting  the 
building.  When  a  general  wakefulness  prevailed,  the 
weary  hours  of  night  were  beguiled  by  story-telling 
and  song-siDging,  though  maybe  not  of  the  most  re- 
fined character. 

The  bay  into  which    the  creek  emptied  was  a  favor- 


A   FISHERY    OF    OLDEN    TiaiES   DESCEIRED.  47 

able  place  for  striped-bass-catching,  which  was  to  some 
extent  practised  by  those  who  frequented  the  herring 
fishery,  by  baiting  a  hook  with  part  of  a  fish,  thrown 
far  off  from  the  shore,  it  was  allowed  to  remain  until 
the  fish  in  search  of  food,  would  greedily  attempt  to 
swallow  it,  when  he  would  get  hooked  so  securely 
that  he  would  soon  die.  The  owner  of  the  line  looked 
to  it  occasionally  through  the  night.  .  Not  unfreqnently, 
however,  the  pleasant  anticipation  of  the  fisherman 
would  vanish  after  a  hard  and  long  pull,  discovering 
(not  a  large  bass,  as  he  fancied,)  but  maybe  an  over- 
grown sheep  which  some  lover  of  fun  had  procured 
from  a  neighboring  farm,  and  attached  to  the  line  in 
the  temporary  absence  of  the  proprietor.  Such  was 
the  place  where  many  days  and  nights  of  my  life 
were  passed, — usually  receiving  good  pay,  sometimes 
in  fish,  at  other  times  cash.  This  fishery  was  a  source 
of  no  inconsiderable  income  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
island  generally.  Most  any  business  interest  could 
easily  determine  when  it  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, by  the  influx  of  money,  which,  readily  changing 
hands,  made  trade  lively,  giving  to  the  place  a  healthy 
spirit  of  activity. 

Fences  in  that  immediate  vicinity  were  not  allowed 
to  remain  more  than  one  season,  for  almost  of  a  cer- 
tainty some  cold  dark  night  would  they  be  used  for 
firewood. 

A  few   years  ago,  the  creek    being    in    a    somewhat 


48  A    FISHERY    OF    OLDEX    TIMES   DESCRIBED. 

dilapidated  condition,  almost  the  whole  interest  being 
represented  b}^  the  King  and  a  few  faithful  followers, 
who  cared  more,  seeraingly,  to  catch  every  fish  who 
dared  to  invade  its  waters,  rather  than  to  make  any 
improvements,  a  number  of  very  wicked  men  conceived 
the  idea  of  letting  the  salt  water  into  the  nursery  above, 
by  tapping  the  beach  which  divided  it  from  the  ocean. 
For  a  long  time  guards  were  stationed  at  the  various 
localities  most  propitious  for  so  vile  a  purpose,  to  pre- 
vent, if  possible,  such  a  disaster.  But  finally  the  vigi. 
lance  of  the  guards  becoming  bankrupt,  digging 
be^an,  and  before  daylight  betrayed  the  "  Diggers," 
(as  they  were  termed,)  a  ship  channel  was  made  and 
the  pond  so  reduced  that  the  creek  became  useless. 
The  main  object  in  opening  the  beach  was  :  that  passing 
shoals  of  herring  and  other  members  of  the  finny 
family  might  have  a  suitable  port  of  entry,  where  in 
large  quantities  they  might  be  taken  by  the  illegal 
process  of  seining.  The  parties  supposed  to  be  engaged 
in  so  nefarious  a  work,  were  placed  under  arrest,  tried 
and  permitted  to  give  bail  for  further  examination, 
which  resulted  in  their  acquittal,  their  case  being 
argued  by  Hon.  B.  F.  Butler,  a  lawyer  of  some  emi- 
nence, and  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  Congress. 
He  from  the  fact  (possibly)  of  his  being  slightly  cross- 
eyed, was  unable  to  see  that  the  rights  of  Mattakeesett 
had  been  invaded ;  representing  with  no  little  show  of 
truthfulness,  that  no  such  fishery  in  fact  existed,  as  the 


A   FISHERY    OF    OLDEX    TIMES    DESCRIBED.  '  49 

spot  originally    granted    was  half  a  milq  out  to  sea. 

And  now,  having  given  you  quite  an  elaborate  his- 
tory of  an  interest  which  for  a  century  supplied  the 
markets  of  New  England  and  the  South-west  with  a 
great  table  luxury,  besides  attracting  to  our  shores  fish 
of  larger  species,  which  was  not  only  desirable,  but 
exceedingly  profitable,  asking  your  pardon  for  a  seem- 
ing digression,  I  will  continue  my  narrative,  which 
brings  me  to  the  nineteenth  year  of  my  age,  when  I 
joined  the  little  Pilot-boat,  Exchange,  for  a  season  of 
fishing  on  the  shoals  south  of  Nantucket. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FISHING  VOYAGE    AND   BAD   BITM. 

UR  vessel  was  under  the    command    of  a  Captain 
Dunham,  with  a  crew  of  five  men  and  her  cook, 

in  which  latter  capacity  I  served,  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  for  the  services  rendered  I  was  to  re- 
ceive all  the  fish  caught  by  myself,  —  which  proved  a 
good  arangement  on  my  part,  as  my  line  stood  "high 
hook."  The  reason  why  may  be  easily  explained,  it  being 
partially  from  industrious  habits,  but  more  particularly 
perhaps  from  strict  adherance  to  temperance  principles, 
which  I  am  sorry  to  say  was  rather  the  exception  than 
the  general  rule  in  practice  on  board  our  vessel,  many 
a  good  oDportunity  sliding  by  while  our  men  were 
sleeping  off  the  ill  effects  of  their  boozy  carousals.  After 
being  out  nearly  a  week,  it  was  thought  best  to  make 
a  harbor,  as  the  jugs  were  about  drained,  and  they 
could  not  stand  the  pressure  of  their  departed  spirit's 
with  any  degree  of*  comfort  or  composure.  So  the 
craft  was  headed  for  Chatham,  and  notwithstanding  it 
was  blowing  a  gale    heedless  of  consequences,  in  such 


FISHIN^G   VOYAGE   AND   BAD   RUM.  51 

haste  were  they  to  gain  the  land  that  a  fresh  supply 
might  be  procured,  sail  was  crowded  on  to  such  a 
degree  that  the  mainmast  was  badly  sprung,  besides 
very  nearly  numbering  our  mess  as  each  moment,  wave 
after  wave  threatend  to  engulf  us.  Good  luck  rather 
than  skillful  management,  at  nightfall  of  a  Saturday, 
enabled  us  to  reach  port.  Without  delay  a  messenger 
was  dispatched  for  the  article  in  question,  which  al- 
ready on  that,  as  on  many  other  occassions,  had  so 
nearly  proved  the  destroyer  of  both  body  and  soul  of 
men  illy  prepared  to  meet  such  a  fearful  end.  The 
following  morning  opened  finely,  our  captain  in  his 
suit  of  go-on-shore  apparel  told  me  of  his  intention  to 
attend  church,  wished  me  to  set  him  on  shore  and 
watch  for  his  return  to  take  him  on  board  again,  and 
be  sure  not  to  keep  him  long  in  waiting.  The  crew 
preferring  to  remain  with  the  vessel,  did  so,  spending 
the  day  in  the  gratification  of  an  appetite  which 
seemed  to  control  and  master  all  the  better  feelings  and 
emotions  of  their  nature.  This  they  took  pleasure  in 
demonstrating  in  various  methods,  one  of  which  prov- 
ing very  nearly  fatal  to  myself,  I  will  speak  of. 

When  the  hour  had  about  arrived  for  the  Captain  to 
return,  some  of  the  crew,  thinking  to  embarrass  my 
ability  to  obey  his  order,  filled  the  boat  with  water, 
then  in  a  commanding  voice  told  me  to  jump  in  and 
bail  her  out.  At  first,  feeling  somewhat  angry,  I  flatly 
refused  j    whereupon  I    was    told  if  the  order  was  not 


52  riSHIXG    YOTAGE    A2n'D    BAD    RUM, 

immediately  complied  with,  they  would  throw  me  into 
the  ocean.     Still  refusing,  they  made  good  their  word, 
and  roughly  clutching  me  when    a  little  off  my  guard, 
regardless  of  my  cries  that  I  could  not  swim,  tumbled 
me  headlong  over  the  vessel's  side.     One,  more  human 
than  his  companions,  seeing    my  jruitless  .endeavors  to 
regain   the  vessel,    threw    over. a    rope,  by  the  aid   of 
which  I    succeeded    in  crawling    in    the   water-logged 
boat.     Receiving  a  bucket,  I    lost  no  time  in  clearing 
the  boat  from  the  water,  as  I  was    assured  the  experi- 
ence already  received  was  but    a  preliminary    to  what 
might  be  expected  if  further    refusal  was  persisted  in. 
Soon  the  voice  of  the    captain  warned  me    of  his    ap- 
proach, and  as  speedily  as    possible  I    finished  bailing 
and  pulled  in  after  him.     Somewhat  displeased  that  he 
was    kept  waiting,  he    inquired  the    cause,  and    when 
informed    that  others  were  more  to  blame  than  myself, 
he  swore    roundly,  threatening  to    reduce  each    man's 
allowance  fo  rum  to  three  quarts  per  day. 

Soon  got  under  way  and  in  a  few  hours  were  on 
good  fishing  ground.  Remained  this  time  two  or  three, 
weeks,  when  a  fearful  gale  from  the  eastward  caused 
us  to  make  for  a  port.  Not  a  stich  of  canvas  could 
be  carried,  and  under  bare  poles  we  scud  like  the 
wind,  the  fury  of  which  we  were  endeavoring  to  es- 
cape. It  was  dark  when  we  entered  Edgartown  har-; 
bor,  ran  in  under  Tower  Hill,  let  go  both  anchors, 
which  they  dragged,  and  high  and  dry  up  the   beach  we 


FISHING    AOYAGE    AXD    BAD    RUM.  53 

went.  By  removing  a  part  of  the  fish  we  shortly  hove 
her  off,  and  went  ont  on  another  trip,  continuing  them 
with  varied  success  and  unimportant  incidents  until  the 
closing  of  the  season. 

During  the  Fall  and  Winter  of  1803  passed  my  time 
much  as  I  had  in  previous  Winters,  when  not  on  ship- 
board, endeavoring  to  earn  an  honest  penny,  sometime 
claming  and  eeling  or  clearing  woodland  {''  stump- 
ing," as  it  was  called,  though  not  exactly  in  the  sense 
it  is  generally  understood  at  the  present  day) ;  but 
procuring  the  means  of  smoothing,  to  the  best  of  my 
abilities,  the  pathway  fo  my  still  surviving  parent  and 
the  family  looking  to  us  for  support.  Early  in  April  of 
the  same  year,  on  board  the  sloop-smack  Democrat, 
C.  Pease,  followed  fishing  on  the  south  side  of  Nan- 
tucket, marketing  our  fares  at  New  Bedford.  Afterward, 
as  the  season  became  more  favorable,  we  changed  our 
business  for  the  lobster  trade,  where  along  the  shores 
of  Cape  Cod  we  would  make  cip  our  load,  disposing  of 
it  to  New  York  dealers.  Five  or  six  weeks  were  usually 
consumed  in  making  a  round  trip.  On  one  of  these 
trips  we  were  run  down  by  a  large  schooner  bound  in 
a  different  direction.  It  was  dark  at  the  time,  and 
nothing  was  observed  uutil  the  vessels  collided.  Our 
mainsail  was  badly  torn,  and  the  hull  of  our  vessel 
amidships  cut  down,  so  that  it  appeared  we  could  not 
long  prevent  sinking.  However,  by  stufiing  the  open 
seams  with  old  clothing,  ba^s  &c.,  we    finally  reached 


64  FISHING    VOYAGE    AI^'D    BAD    EUM. 

port,  repaired  damages  and  resumed  our  trips,  continu- 
ing them  till  fall.  I  then  took  to  the  woods  again, 
where  felling  trees  and  stubbing  kept  me  engaged  until 
the  North  River  sloop  Eastern  Trader  offered  me  achance, 
at  twenty-two  dollars  per  month.  Our  business  was 
freighting  grain  from  Albany  and  New  York  to  Bos- 
ton. In  order  that  you  may  have  some  idea  of  the 
perils  of  weathering  Cape  Cod  in  the  Winter  season, 
I  will  devote  a  few  minutes,  if  agreeable,  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  subject. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A   CRUISE    OF   THE    COASTING    SLOOP,    EASTERN   TRADER. 

HE  vessel  was  under  the  command  of  Captain 
^M  Ripley,  my  former  guardian  ,  and  here  it  may  be 
well  to  mention  that  she  was  very  low-decked, 
and  consequently  when  laden  the  water  would  often 
flow  over  it,  which  in  freezing  weather  did  not  have 
a  tendency  to  increase  the  comfort  of  those  on  board. 
Soon  after  sun-rise,  the  tide  serving  right,  we  left  the 
harbor  of  Edgartown,  in  company  with  a  number  of 
square  riggers,  and  a  top-sail  sloop.  A  favorable  wind 
took  us  down  as  far  as  the  highlands  of  Cape  Cod, 
when  it  changed  into  the  north-west  and  blew  a  hurri- 
cane, and  it  became  necessary  to  put  the  vessel  under 
as  snug  sail  as  possible.  This  the  extreme  cold  made 
very  difficult  to  perform,  especially  as  the  clew  of  our 
mainsail  was  carried  away,  and  in  lowering  down  we 
could  not  well  avoid  dropping  it  into  the  water.  As 
we  got  it  on  board  it  immediately  stiffened  with  ice, 
but  at  last  we  got  in  three  reefs,  and  with  a  tackle 
on  boom-end  hooked  on  to  the  flue,  hauled  out  as  well 
as  we  could  and  reset  it.     Took  bonnet  off  the  jib  and 

55 


66      A  CRUISE  OF  THE  COASTING  SLOOP,  EASTERN  TRADER. 

stood  off-  shore,  making  .a  north-east  course  ;  rau  till 
morning  and  then  wore  ship  standing  in  to  the  west- 
ward, the  hull  of  our  vessel  looking  like  a  floating 
iceberg,  being  fairly  logged  with  the  quantity  of  ice 
that  had  collected,  almost  hiding  our  identity.  We 
fetched  in  as  near  Chatham  beach  as  the  wind  allowed, 
let  go  the  anchor,  and  set  colors  in  the  rigging 
"  union  down,''  for  assistance,  which  very  soon  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  a  number  of  men  who  came  to 
our  relief.  Our  captain  asked  if  they  could  get  us  in, 
which,  after  clearing  the  craft  of  her  formidable  load, 
they  succeeded  in  doing,  to  our  great  joy.  In  order 
to  avoid  large  quantities  of  drifting  ice  which  came 
down  with  the  ebb  tide,  while  we  had  one  anchor  in 
the  channel,  another  was  taken  on  to  the  shore,  which 
hauled  us  close  in  out  of  a  strong  current,  as  we  just 
kept  the  channel  cable  tight,  without  fear  of  ground- 
ing, and  at  flood  tide  swung  by  it. 

The  tops'l  sloop  with  one  schooner,  soon  after  came 
in;  also  a  brig,  which  had  bee-n  run  down,  during  the 
night,  dropped  her  anchor  a  little  to  the  leeward  of  us 
in  a  crippled  condition.  The  vessel  with  which  she 
had  been  in  contact  doubtless  sank,  and  her  unfortu- 
nate crew  found  a  watery  grave.  Thus,  from  a  fleet 
of  over  forty  sail  only  four  succeded  in  making  an 
anchorage,  the  others  being  driven  out  to  sea. 

Learning  the  particulars  of  the  sad  catastrophe  to 
which  I  have  alluded,  we  found  that  the  first  blow  re- 


A  CRUISE  OF  THE  COASTING  &LOOP,  EA.STEKN  TRADEll.  51 

ceived  by  the  brig  carried  the  bowsprit  by  the  board 
close  up  to  the  stem,  aud  broke  the  anchor  flue.  She 
next  got  a  blow  'midships,  which  cut  her  down  till  the 
cotton  in  the  hold  and  on  deck  fetched  her  up.  By 
this  time  the  water  was  running  in,  but  by  opening 
the  bales  of  cotton  and  stuffing  •the  gaps,  she  was  kept 
afloat,  and  by  lashing  the  kedge-anchor  to  the  broken 
flue  and  letting  go,  they  were  enabled  to  outride  the 
gale.  We  lay  there  a  number  of  days.  Our  pro- 
visions giving  out,  went  ashore  and  bought  what  we 
could  ;  we  also  butchered  a  bullock  which  was  divided 
among  the  several  crews.  Thus  making  the  best  of  a 
bad  bargain,  finally  one  Sunday  morning  the  weather 
moderating,  it  looked  favo'fable  for  a  start.  The  mate 
was  ashore,  which  somewhat  delayed  us,  but  we  took  the 
shore  anchor  in,  letting  the  vessel  swing  into  the  chan- 
nel, and  anxiously  waited  for  the  mate.  Presently  a 
large  field  of  ice  came  sweeping  down  with  a  strong 
tide,  which  piled  in  upon  us,  running  up  the  rigging 
a  dozen  feet  high,  then  falling  with  a  crash  upon  deck. 
Directly  our  cable  parted,  and  unable  to  help  ourselves, 
we  were  crowded  upon  a  shoal,  broadside  to  the  ice,« 
which  threatened  to  demolish  us.  About  this  time  the 
mate  arrived  and  as  the  tide  gradually  slacked,  cleared 
the  ice,  and  by  a  small  anchor  hove  off  and  returned 
to  our  former  anchorage,  but  with  the  loss  of  our  large 
anchor.  We  hired  the  longshoremen  to  try  and  recover 
it  for  us,  but    they  not    exerting    themselves  much,  it 


58     A  CRUISE  OP  THE  COASTING  SLOOP,  EASTERN  TRADER. 

was  lost  to  US,  Doubtless  when  they  were  disposed 
to  attend  to  the  matter  it  was  not  much  of  a  job  ;  it 
probably  paid  better  to  get  it  for  themselves  than  to 
have  secured  it  for  us. 

We  left  in  a  few  days  in  company  with  the  topsail 
sloop,  and  got  into  Boston  Bay,  taking  another  snow- 
storm and  easterly  gale.  The  sloop  was  just  on  our 
weather  bow,  heading  as  nearly  as  possible  for  Boston 
light,  when  a  heavy  sea  boarded  her,  breaking  the 
stern  boat  clear  from  her  beyond  recovery.  Not  long 
after,  glad  enough  and  tired  enough,  we  tied  up  at 
Long  Wharf,  and  the  sloop  near  by  at  Central.  Both 
vessels  soon  had  good  fires  going,  to  warm  their  crews 
and  dry  their  clothing.  Directly  the  alarm  of  fire  was 
sounded,  and  hastening  on  deck  we  found  that  on 
board  the  sloop  too  much  of  a  good  thing  was  proving 
injurious.  The  wooden  funnel  leading  irom  the  old- 
fashioned  fire-place,  (commonly  used  in  those  days) 
having  taken  fire  and  communicated  to  the  spars  and 
sails,  needed  attention,  which  it  soon  received  and 
the  flames  were  extinguished,  with  only  the  loss  of 
-articles  mentioned.  Our  cargo  was  sold  in  lots  to  suit 
customers.  We  then  made  other  cruises  to  the  west 
and  returning,  not  always  having  so  rough  a  time,  but 
generally  requiring  about  three  weeks  to  go  and  re- 
turn. This  business  I  continued  until  late  in  the  Fall, 
when  the  vessel  went  into  Winter  quarters,  resuming  it 
again  in  the  Spring. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

UNCLE     JETHEO     FORMS        THE      ACQUAINTANCE      OF      HIS 
FUTUEE    BRIDE. 

fONSIDERING  myself  by  this  time  old  enough  to 
appreciate  female  society,  it  may  not  appear 
strange  that  my  thoughts  sometimes  roamed  o'er 
the  broad  doniain  of  fancy,  in  quest  of  an  object  on 
which  to  place  my  affections,  as  I  pictured  in  my 
imagination  a  little  home  of  my  own,  which  I  hoped 
in  the  future  to  share  with  somebody's  daughter.  About 
this  time  a  circumstance  did  occur,  though  slight  in 
itself,  which  in  its  final  results  had  the  effect  of  chang- 
ing the  whole  tenor  of  my  life  ;  and  many  times  since, 
when  congratulating  myself  on  the  good  fortune  at- 
tending me,  I  have  been  led  to  say,  —  it  was  the  only 
genuine  streak  of  good  luck  I  ever  did  have. 

The  trouble  between  our  Country  and  Great  Britain 
having  been  settled,  commerce  revived  and  business 
interests  on  sea  and  land  generally  improved.  Yet 
awaiting  an  opportunity  just  suiting  my  wishes,  I  re- 
mained ashore,  or  occasionally  made  short  cruises  in 
and  about  the  fishing  waters  of  Vineyard  Sound  or  out 

59 


60        FORMS  THE  ACQUAINTA2«"CE  OF  HIS  FUTUEE  BElL'ji. 

the  south  side  of  the  island,  for  a  sword-fish  ex- 
pedition or  a  cod-fish  voyage,  usually  returning  quite 
early  in  the  day.  Upon  my  return  from  one  of  these 
excursions,  having  carelessly  neglected  taking  along 
my  rations,  the  gnawings  of  hunger  hastened  my  foot- 
steps to  the  home  of  my  mother  and  the  little  family, 
who,  upon  arriving,  I  found  to  be-  out  making  calls. ^ 
Not  .being  a  stranger  to  the  cupboard,  I  soon  refreshed 
myself  and  sat  down  to  meditate.  I  was  soon  in  a 
brown  study,  and  the  autumnal  sun  went  down  e'er 
my  revery  was  disturbed.  But  shortly  after,  the  voice 
of  the  lady  who  occupied  the  lower  tenement,  (Mrs. 
Pentj  aroused  me,  as  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs  she 
informed  me  of  the  presence  of  two  young  ladies 
whose  acquaintance  she  wished  me  to  form,  adding 
that  I  must  change  my  clothes  as  soon  as  possible  and 
present  myself.  Not  being  the  possessor  of  so  elabor- 
ate a  wardrobe  as  is  considered  necessary  at  the  pres- 
ent day,  I  was  not  long  in  deciding  what  I  should 
adopt.  Soon  attired,  I. ''reported  for  duty"  by  enter- 
ing the  presence  of  the  company,  to  whom  I  was  in- 
troduced and  endeavored  to  make  as  good  an  impres- 
sion as  possible.  Have  since  ound  out  that  they  never 
would  have  mistrusted  that  I  was  half  as  green  as  I 
fancied  myself.  Their  call  was  not  a  long  one,  and, 
if  I  remember  correctly  there  was  not  much  that  I 
found  to  talk  about:  which  possibly  will  account  for 
my  not    being    taken  for    a    verdant   youth.     But    the 


FORMS  THE  ACQUAINTANCE  OF  UIS  FUTURE  BRIDE.  61 

real  fact  in  the  matter  is,  that  as  often  as  I  cast  my 
eyes  toward  the  particular  location  occupied  by  one, 
it  became  almost  impossible  to  utter  a  sentence,  and 
from  that  brief  interview  the  discovery  was  made  that 
the  heart  so  long  all  my  own  (as  regards  matrimonial 
inclinations)  had  been  captivated  by  one  I  had  never 
before  met.  After  the  ladies  left  the  house,  Mrs.  Pent 
(or,  as  better  known  later  in  life,  ''Aunt  Debby,'^  from 
the  uniform  kindness  of  heart  and  christian  spirit  she 
■ever  manifested)  asked  Die  what. I  thought  of  the  girls. 
My  reply  was  that  they  appeared  very  pleasant.  Being 
still  further  interrogated,  confessed  my  preference  for 
Miss  Stewart,  adding  the  assurance  that  if  she  would 
not  refuse  me,  I  would  marry  her  as  I  was  a  living 
man.  "  0,"  says  Aunt  Derby,  "  you  are  joking."  My 
reply  was,  ''  You  wait  and  see ;  for  as  I  am  a  living 
Jethro,  she  shall  be  my  wife  if  I  can  get  her.  Which 
promise,  I  am  proud  to  say,  was  kept  five  years 
afterward,  to  the  joy  and  comfort  of  'a  long  and  check- 
ered life. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

CAPTURE   OP   THE   WHALEE,     *'MARY   ANN,"    BY  AK 
ENGLISH   MAN  OF- WAR, 

'HE  young  lady  to  whom  I  have  alluded  was  the 
daughter  of  a  well-to-do  farmer,  who,  possessing 
no  ordinary  talents  in  the  art  of  husbandry,  was 
amply  rewarded,  as  his  saccessful  improvements  la 
agricultural  implements  and  abundant  harvests  indicat- 
ed. If  advice  was  needed  or  suggestions  were  to  be 
made,  Farmer  Benjamin  Stewart  must  be  consulted, 
and  his  views  and  opinions  received  as  decisive. 
The  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter  be- 
side her  already  referred  to,  each  in  some  degree  in- 
heriting the  proud  spirit  and  noble  ambition  of  the 
father.  With  the  exception  of  the  eldest  son,  they  all 
appeared  to  take  delight  in  the  honorable  calling  of 
agriculture.  He,  early  in  life,  manifested  a*  strong 
desire  to  follow  the  sea,  thinking  a  farmer's  life  too 
tame  to  suit  his  roving  propensities.  Starting  when  but 
a  lad,  he  made  a  number  of  voyages  in  the  whaling 
business,  till  returning    from  one  he    was  captured   by 

62  „ 


CAPTITRE  OP  THE  WHAXER,  ''MARY  ANN.''  63 

an  English  Man-of-war,  and  all  hands  made  prisoners, 
some  of  them  being  sent  to  England,  the  remainder, 
including  himself,  being  held  on  board  tl^^  war  ship. 
They  destroyed  the  whaler,  which  was  the  Mary  Ann, 
belonging  to  the  island  of  Nantucket.  Here  it  was 
that  the  vim  of  the  family  was  clearly  demonstrated, 
and  the  stubborn  will  of  Sam,  the  son  of  Benjamin, 
Britian's  heel  could  not  subdue. 

Nearing  our  coast,  it  was  remarked  by  the  Admiral 
that  getting  short  of  provisions,  they  must  put  in  some- 
where for  a  supply.  Overhearing  the  talk,  our  ex- 
whaleman  replied,  ''  Sir,  1  can  tell  you  where  you  may 
be  supplied."  Said  he,  "  can  you  take  us  in  where 
our  stores  can  be  recruited?"  "I  can,  sir;  New 
York  is  a  grand  place,  I  will  take  you  right  in." 
"For  your  impudence,"  he  replied,  "you  will  form 
the  acquaintance  of  Dartmoor  Prison."  And  it  was 
not  long  before  his  words  were  verified. 

While  on  board  the  ship  he  flatly  refused  to  touch 
his  hat  to  the  British  officers,  which  greatly  aggravat- 
ed them  ;  but  no  punishment  that  was  threatened  in- 
duced him  to  comply,  which  oftentimes  cost  him  severe 
treatment.  Such  was  the  determined  spirit  of  one  of 
the  family,  which  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  was  ap- 
parent in  the  character  of  each  of  the  others,  not  ex- 
cepting my  intended.  But  to  dispose  of  Sam,  whom 
I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  introduce  to  you,  permit 
me  to  add  that  after  a  long  confinement    in  the    filthy 


64  CAPTURE  OF  THE  WHALEE,  ^'MAEY  AXX." 

dungeon,  ho  was  liberated  in  order  to  take  command 
of  the  English  ship  Elizabeth,  bound  on  a  whaling 
cruise.  The#ship  was  taken  by  the  natives,  during  the 
voyage,  but  subsequently  was  recaptured  through  the 
daring  bravery  of  her  Captain,  a,nd  safely  returned  with 
a  valuable  cargo  of  oil.  He  made  a  number  of  voy 
ages,  which  proving  successful,  placed  him  in  comfort- 
able circumstances,  which  he  made  more  so  by  taking  to 
his  lieart  and  home  a  most  amiable  .and  lovely  English 
lady  for  whom  he  had  formed  an  attachment. 

A  few  years  after  he  was  supposed  to  have  been 
poisoned  by  the  natives,  whom  he  visted  while  still 
pursuing  his  favorite  calling.  A  lew  years-  since,  one 
of  his  sons  came  to  America  and  visited  the  childhoods 
home  of  his  departed  parent.  What  his  opinion  of  the 
premises  was  we  are  unable  to  conjecture  ;  but  if  fond 
of  a  quiet  life  and  the  constant  roll  of  tl^  ocean,  he 
could  not  have  failed  to  enjoy  the  scene  to  his  heart's 
content. 

Fresh  in  our  memory  are  the  scenes  of  our  childhood, 
Forget  them  we'll  never  by  night  or  by  day  ; 
Old  ocean  and  plain,  the  scrub-oak  and  wildwood. 
Make  familar  the  spot  where  in  youth  we  did  play. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


ALMOST   A    HERO. 


^efore  I  continue  this  yarn  any  farther,  I  must 
tell  you  an  old  story,  an  incident  which  occurr- 
ed during;  the  turbulent   days    in  the    latter  part 

of    the  war  of  1812,  which  came  near   making    a -hero 

of  your  humble  servant. 

'*  There  is  a  destiny  that  shapes  our  ends, 
Rough  hew  them  as  we  will." 

Early  in  the  morning  of  a  very  fine  day,  a  number 
of  men  strolling  on  the  south  beach  of  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, discovered  amoung  the  reefs  a  vessel  displaying 
signals  for  a  pilot.  Immediately  shoving  off  a  small 
boat  kept  for  that  purpose,  they  boarded  her  and 
lound  her  to  be  a  prize  to  an  English  Convoy,  that  had 
recently  been  prowling  around  in  company  with  a  Man- 
of-war.  The  vessel  captured  was  just  returning  with  a 
oad  of  cod-fish,  and  her  crew  was  prisoners  in  the 
hold  of  the  vessel  which  had  been  partially  emptied 
of  fish  for  their  reception  The  officer  in  command 
requested  to  be  taken  into  some    neutral  port  for  sup 

65 


66  ALMOST    A    HERO. 

plies.  Accordingly  she  was  cleared  from  the  shoals, 
aud  after  a  few  hours  anchored  between  the  lighthouse 
in  Edgatown  harbor  and  Chappaquiddic  point  opposite. 
Observing  her  and  judging  that  one  of  our  fishing  fleet 
had  arrived,  with  a  neighbor  I  launched  a  skiff  and 
pulled  off  to  have  a  "gam,"  not  apprehending  the  least 
danger  until  to  late  to  retreat.  Ran  alongside,  and, 
our  warp  being  passed,  we  were  invited  by  the  officer 
of  the  deck  to  come  on  board,  discovering  to  our  dis- 
may that  instead  of  her  being  what  we  supposed,  she 
belonged  to  Her  Majesty's  service.  But  putting  on  the 
best  face  possible,  I  replied  to  the  questions  put  by 
the  commander  as  if  we  perfectly  understood  our  po- 
sition. 

Said  he  to  me,  "  Are  you  aware  what  kind  of  a 
craft  you  have  visited?"  In  reply,  very  indifferently 
I  assured  him  that  I  did  know.  For  I  had  observed 
previously  to  gaining  the  deck,  that  the  buttons  on 
his  coat  bore  the  emblems  of  the  English  Navy,  in- 
steadof  those  representing  our  own.  Trying  what  effect 
his  words  might  have  upon  us,  we  were  told  that  we 
would  not  be  allowed  to  leave  the  vessel  ;  to  which  in 
reply,  I  said  "  I  think,  sir,  you  will  be  gentlemanly 
enough,,  when  we  are  disposed  to  leave  (which  we  are 
in  no  hurry  to  do),  to  permit  us  to  do  so."  "Yes,  0 
yes;  certainly;  I  was  only  joking"  "But,"  he  con- 
tinued," we  are  out  of  small  stores,  and  you  must  furnish 
us  with  what  are  needed  without  any  money,  aswe  have 


ALMOST     A  HERO.  -  61 

none  to  pay."  I  told  him  it  was  ^ot  in  accordance 
with  my  feelings  to  feed  my  enemies.  "But/'  said  he, 
"  does  not  your  Bible  teach  you  so  to  do  ?"  "  Well, 
at  any  rate,  you  cannot  expect  to  be  furnished  with 
provisions  without  remuneration.  'Ah,'  said  he,  "  I  have 
it  now  !  In  our  vessel's  hold  is  stowed  a  quantity  of 
dried  fish,  in  exchange  for  which  you  must  satisfy  our 
demand."  This  we  agreed  to  do,  and  preparation  be- 
ing made  to  take  our  leave,  he  communicated  the 
countersign,  which  was  supposed  to  insure  attention 
from  the  night  sentry,  at  which  time  he  recommended 
us  to  return.  On  reaching  shore,  we  immediately  re- 
pared  to  a  grocery  near  by,  kept  by  one  Thomas 
Mayhew,  who  very  Willingly  supplied  the  requisition 
which  in  due  time  was  conveyed  to  the  vessel.  On  our 
near  approach,  as  previously  instructed,  we  rested  on 
our  oars,  in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  sen- 
tinel. He  failing  to  appear,  we  ran  alongside  and 
gained  the  deck,  where,  upon  looking  around,  we  dis 
covered  to  our  amazement  ^nd  surprise  that  we  were 
masters  of  the  position,  the  sentry  not  to  be  found, 
and  the  vessel's  company  asleep  below  decks  I  Pro 
ceeding  forward,  where  the  cabin  m  such  craft  usually 
was  built,  found  the  scuttle  nearly  closed,  which  fact 
I  was  not  long  in  communicating  to  my  companion, 
informing  him  that  by  shutting  the  slide  and  dropping 
into  the  clasp  a  thole  pin,  the  anchor  could  be 
slipped,    the    vessel    beached,  and   all    her    crew    and 


68  .  ALMOST    A    HEEO. 

officers  would  b^ome  prisoners  to  our  little  strategy. 
Said  he,  '*  It  will  never  do/'  fearlul  that  it  coming  to 
the  ears  of  Her  Majesty,  our  town  would  have  to  suf 
fer  the  consequences.  Very  reluctantly  the  idea  was 
abandoned ;  making  our  presence  known,  such  a  tumbl- 
ing up  stairs  was  never  before  heard  of.  In  such  a 
hurry  were  they,  a  number  came  .  near  receiving  fatal 
injuries  by  getting  so  completely  wedged  together, 
it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were  extricated. 

The  goods  being  received  on  board,  the  fish  were 
passed  into  the  boat  in  generous  quantities,"  so  many 
in  fact,  I  feared  the  intention  of  the  officers  was  to 
sink  us ;  at  last  I  begged  them  to  desist,  crying 
"enough!  enough!"  when  the  «>rder  was  given  to 
*'  cease  firing.''  We  then  rowed  for  the  shore,  the 
vessel  soon  after  taking  her  departure  of  the  pilots  who 
still  remained  on  board,  only  leaving  her  when  the  foot 
of  the  shoals  was  reached,  receiving,  as  we  subse- 
quently learned,  twenty-five  dollars  in  hard  specie  for 
the  service  he  rendered.   • 

The  fish  thus  received  from  our  midnight  excursion 
were  sold  for  a  good  price,  and  the  whole  affair  re- 
garded as  a  profitable  investment.  Yet  it  was  difficult 
to  rid  myself  for  years  after,  of  the  torineutin-g  thought 
that  I  had  lost,  beyond  the  hope  of  recovery,  the  only 
opportunity  ever  offered  to  do  a  big  thing.  But  as 
eyery  thing  happening  is  lor  the  best,  I  accepted  the 
consolation  of  this  reflection,  still  persuing  my  humble 
walks  in  life. 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

Fir.ST    YOTAGE    EN"   A    SQUARE    EIGGER. 

^^OON  after  peace  was  proclaimed,  a  small  sloop 
iTS  ^^^^  ^^^0  0^^  harbor  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
men  who  were  willing  to  proceed  to  Portland,  Me., 
to  assist  in  bringing  to  Bristol,  R.  I.,  the  ship  Gen. 
Jackson,  a  five  hundred  ton  prize  to  the  privateer, 
Yankee,  of  Bristol.  With  a  number  of  others  I  agreed 
0  go  for  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  for  the  run.  On 
arriving  at  the^  place  designated,  found  that  as  the 
vessel  was  yet  to  be  loaded,  our  services  were  requir- 
ed in  getting  the  cargo  on  board,  for  which  we  received 
daily  wages.  Her  hold  was  stowed  off  with  a  variety 
of  small  lumber,  and  on  deck  were  taken  spars  and 
heavy  timber. 

We  left  port  with  a  fair  wind,  but  to  enjoy  it  long 
was  not  in  our  line  of  luck.'  Soon  changiilg  to  a  gale, 
and  a  snow-storm  accompanying  it,  we  were  obliged  to 
send  down  top-gallant  yards  and  masts,  .close-reef 
the  lower  sails,  and  try  to  make  the  best  we 
could  of  a  bad  bargain,  as  it  was  impossible  to  get 
back.     Hauled  the  ship  on  the  port  tack,  keeping  her  so 

69 


*10  FIRST    VOYAGE    IN^   A    SQUAEE    RIGGER. 

for  three  or  four  days,  when  the  weather    became  bet- 
ter and  we  resumed  our  course. 

Got  along  very  well  until  a  thick  fog  enveloped  us 
and  the  wind  canted  to  the  southward,  finally  dying 
away  to  a  calm  with  a  strong  current  setting  to  the 
northward.  Indications  of  the  near  approach  to  land, 
by  a  roaring  sound  borne  to  us  through  the  dense 
darkness,  led  us  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  wis- 
dom to  throw  the  deep  sea  lead  ;  which  being  done, 
we  found  shoal  water,  and  at  every  trial,  it  was  be- 
coming beautifully  less.  Cleared  away  both  anchors, 
overhauled  a  range  of  cables,  ready  to  let  go  at  a 
moments  warning.  Judging  ourselves  to  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  South  Shoal  (which  probably  was  correct), 
a  light  breeze  springing  up,  we  shot  out  clear,  our 
pilot  taking  a  departure  on  the  supposition. 

The  fog  and  southerly  winds  continued  to  prevail, 
and  we  saw  nothing  to  relieve  our  anxiety  for  a  num- 
ber of  days. 

At  last  our  soundings  indicated  that  we  were  in 
Block  Island  channel,  and  Block  Island  bearing  west, 
southerly,  four  miles  distant,  shaped  our  course  for 
Newport.  Soon  after,  having  spoken  a  vessel  just  out 
from  there,  entered  the  river  and  soon  arrived  at  Bris- 
tol, where  we  were  paid  off  and  allowed  to  return 
home. 

Thus  terminated  my  first  voyage  in  a  vessel 
"square  rigged.'^     For  a  week  I    remained    at    home, 


FIRST     VOYAGE     IN    A     SQUARE    RIGGER.  71 

which  visit  was  very  agreeably  spent,  —  how  and 
where  for  the  greater  part,  we  will  leave  our  friends 
to  imagine.  But  as  I  was  making  preparation  for  a 
longer  voyage  than  I  had  hitherto  made,  there  was 
much  to  be  looked  after,  and  I  rather  judge  that  part 
was  pretty  well  attended  to. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


N  the  first  of  June,  1815,  in  company  with  two 
'^  ^'^  of  my  townsmen,  I  engaged  passage  on  board 
a  Connecticut  sloop  bound  for  Boston,  a  Vineyard 
pilot  accompanying  us,  as  the  captain  was  not  familiar 
with  the  waters  of  Boston  Bay.  A  heavy  gale,  with 
the  most  vivid  lightnings  and  deep  muttering  thunders, 
overtook  us,  when,  to  add  to  our  discomfort,  the  pilot 
was  taken  suddenly  ill  and  compelled  to  leave  the 
deck.  The  captain,  as  already  stated,  being  a  stranger 
in  these  parts  became  greatly  alarmed  for  our  safety  ; 
but  on  my  assuring  him  that  I  could  take  the  craft 
safely  in,  he  very  readily  gave  up  the  charge  to  me. 
The  wind  soon  favoring  us,  it  was  not  long  e'er,  safe 
and  sound,  we  ran  along  side  the  wharf,  and  instead 
of  my  passage  costing  me  eight  dollars  as  per  agree- 
ment he  offered  to  pay  for  my  services,  which  I  re- 
fused to  accept.    . 

Without  loss  of  time,  my  companions  and  I  visited 
tlie  shipping,  and  an  offer  was  soon  accepted  to  join 
the  ship  Maria,  of  three    hundred  tons  burthen,  bound 

12 


UP    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  T3 

to  Charleston,  S.  C,  for  a  cargo  of  cotton  for  Liver- 
pool. After  getting  out,  finding  the  ship  very  crank, 
not  being  sufficiently  ballasted,  we  put  away  for  tlie 
nearest  port,  which  was  Norfolk,  Ya.,  got  what  was 
required,  and  proceeded  to  Alexandria  for  freight. 
Took  in  three  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty^our 
barrels  of  flour,  and  cleared  for  Barcelona  in  Spain. 
It  was  now  July,  and  we  were  very  glad  to  ex- 
change the  hot  weather  of  that  clime  for  the  cooler 
breezes  of  the  ocean. 

We  were  not  long  in  finding  out  that  a  tyrant,  in- 
stead of  a  gentleman,  was  in  command  of  the  vessel, 
for  before  we  left  the  Potomac  river,  he  seized  up  and 
flogged  two  of  the  crew  Getting  out  to  sea,  the  pilot 
was  discharged,  just  as  Cape  Henry  was  receding  from 
our  view;  but  hardly  had  he  bade  us  farewell,  when 
all  hands  were  ordered  aft,  arrano^ed  in  line  on  the 
port  side  of  the  quarter-deck,  and  told  to  look  over 
the  vessel's  side.  Said  the  brute  in  command,  "  What 
do  you  see"?  Our  reply  was.  Blue  Water.  "Yes," 
replied  he,  "We  are  now  on  blue  water;  and  it  will 
be  a  word  and  a  blow,  and  the  blow  will  come  first  1 
Go  forward  !  "  Thinks  I  to  myself,  that  is  rather  a 
strange  arrangement,  anyway,  and  as  to  that  blow 
coming  first,  it  is  a  prospect  difficult  to  regard  with 
any  degree  of  complacenc5^  Upon  joining  my  ship- 
mates in  the  forecastle,  I  found  it  was  a  system  that 
heretofore  had  never  come  under  their  nautical   experi- 


V4  UP  THE  :mediteeeanean. 

cnce,  and  was  not  calcnlated  to  impress  men  of  any 
spirit  with  any  very'  ardent  feelings  of  reverential  awp, 
or  even  passive  respect.  At  four  o'clock  on  the  third 
day  out,  the  order  to  rig  pumps  was  given.  On  trying 
them,  found  her  to.be  leaking  badly,  and  continued 
pumping  all  night  without  being  able  to  free  her.  A 
strong  breeze  right  aft  made  it  useless  to  attempt  to 
regain  the  port  we  had  left,  but,  in  order  too  ease  the 
vessel,  sent  down  the  top  hamper  and  close-reefed  the- 
lower  sails.  The  pumps  did  not  stop  for  eighteen  days 
and  nights,  the  whole  of  the  time  being  passed  upon 
deck  by  the  crew,  who,  "  spell  and  spell,"  kept  the 
vessel  afloat,  while  without  going  below,  the  eating 
and  drinking  and  the  little  sleep  indulged  in  from  ex- 
haustion took  place  on  the  booby  hatch.  As  yet,  the 
captain,  mate  and  stevedore  had  made  no  exertion  in 
this  direction,  but  quite  frequently  endeavored  to  pun- 
ish as  much  of  the  ardent  as  they  -v^ell  could  We 
concluded  that  the  important  business  in  which  we 
were  then  engaged  should  be  more  equally  divided. 
This  we  respectfully  communicated,  and  informed  the 
Capt.  that  unless  we  were  assisted  the  ahjp  might 
sink  ;  and  with  one  accord  ceased  our  labors.  He  then 
asked  if  she  sucked,  or  why  did  the  pumps  stop,  and 
whose  spell  it  was.  Our  reply  was,  that  the  spells 
were  all  out.  The  hint  was  taken,  and  speaking  to 
the  stevedore,  and  mate,  he  told  them  he  supposed  we 
wa"ted  spelling,  and    addressing    us,  told    us   to  keep 


UP    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  75 

the  pumps  in  motion  or  we  should  sink.  To  which 
we  replied,  "  Let  her  sink  ;  we  can  afford  to  sell  out 
as  cheap  as  you  can.  They  'immediately  turned  on, 
You  can  judge,  of  our  condition,  when,  by  standing 
on  deck  we  could  see,  with  every  motion  of  the  vessel, 
her  whole  upper  deck-frame  open  and  shut,  exposing 
seams  wide  enough  to  thrust  the  whole  hand  in.  Fortu- 
nately, having  on  board  a  lot  of  tallow  candles,  the 
wicks  were  removed  and  the  tallow  mixed  with  ashes' 
from  the  cook's  galley,  making  a  cement  which  was 
crowded  intothe  cracks  of  the  upper  works,  by  a  m-in 
slung  over  the  vessel's  side.  This  kept  out  much 
water  in  smooth  weather,  but  as  soon  as  it  was  any 
way  rough,  out  it  would  come  and  our  labor  would 
soon  drift  far  away  in  our  wake. 

After  a  prolonged  and  tedious  passage,  arriving  at 
Lisbon,  she  was  thorouglily  corked  and  proceeded  on 
her  voyage  to  Barcelona.  When  Gibralter  was  on  our 
lee  quarter,  and  a  fair  wind  was  giving  us  a  noble  run, 
as  we  came  near  •  an  English  Man-of-war  a  shot  was 
fired  to  heave  to.  Not  regarding  the  hint,  it  was  not 
long  before  the  firing  was  repeated,  sending  a  shot 
under  our  bow  which  somewhat  startled  our  command- 
er, as  hfe  judged  they  meant  business,  and  the  order 
was  given  to  haul  aback.  This  being  done  and  the 
sails  clewed  up,  we  were  boarded  by  the  ship's  boats 
in  command  of  an  officer,  who  told  us  if  we  had  not 
stopped  the    next    shot    would    have  riddled    us.     Our 


T6  UP    THE   MEDITEEEANEAN. 

papers  being  found  correct,  permission  was  granted 
us  to  proceed.  Fair  winds  and  beautiful  weather  en- 
abled us  soon  after  to  reach  the  offing,  where,  for 
thirty  days,  we  lay  in  quarantine,  being  from  a  foreign 
country.  The  inhabitants  getting  hungry  for  our  in- 
viting cargo,  took  ashore  nearly  one  quarter  while  be- 
low the  city  ;  each  barrel  receiving  a  quart  of  water 
upon  it  ere  they  dared  to  touch  it.  This  they  ignor- 
antly  imagined  would  secure  them  against  the  danger 
of  infection. 

Custom  House  officers  were  constantly  on  hand,  and 
very  movement  was  watched  by  them.  Large  boats, 
rowed  by  ten  or  more  full  grown  Spaniards,  were  used 
for  transporting  our  cargo  to  the  city  one  and  a  half 
miles  distant.  To  me  some  of  their  capers  appeared 
very  simple.  In  approaching  the  vessel,  a  line  thrown 
to  them  was  sure  to  be  kicked  overboard,  unless  first 
they  had  seen  it  thoroughly  cleansed  by  being  washed 
alongside.  Our  thirty  days  expiring,  the  ship  was 
taken  up  to  the  harbor,  or  mole  as  it  was  called, 
which  was  formed  by  a  break-water.  Three  boats,  one 
on  each  bow,  and  one  out  ahead,  well  manned  by  ro- 
bust natives,  and  the  pilot,  served  to  take  the  ship 
to  her  moorings,  where,  in  a  tier  of  seventy  or  eiglity 
vessels  of  diffierent  kinds  and  nationalities,  *we  dis- 
charged the  remainder  of  our  cargo. 

The  city  is  walled  in,  having  but  two  passes.     No  one 
is  allowed  to  come  in  the  same  gate  they  go  out ;  seu- 


UP   THE   MEDITERRiVNEAN-.  "JY 

tinels  armed  to  the  teeth  guard  each  gateway.  No 
person  is  allowed  to  take  out  of  the  city  over  ten  dol- 
lars at  a  time.  At  night  all  passing  in  or  out  is 
prohibited.  Judging  from  observation,  strict  honesty, 
was  not  proverbial  among  them ;  even  among  those 
placed  on  guard  for  the  security  of  life  and  property, 
a  propensity  for  stealing  from  one  another  prevailed  to  a 
great  extent,  while  the  avariciousness  manifested  was 
almost  paralel  with  a  rumseller.  A  pistareen  was  suf- 
ficient to  bribe  a  sentrj"  on  almost  any  occasion,  which 
our  crew,  who  brought  the  proceeds  of  our  sales  on 
board,  often  practiced.  The  buildings  of  the  city  are 
beautiful,  many  rearing  their  richly  polished  walls 
seven  stories  high,  (but  'tis  to  be  hoped  that,  unlike 
Boston,  their  roofs  are  not  a  la  Mansard);  the  material 
used  in  the  construction  of  these  noble  monuments  of 
architecture  is  a  light  colored  granite.  The  streets  of 
the  city  were  literally  unfited  for  walking,  by  the  ac- 
cumulation of  mud,  and  so  narrow  that  one  vehicle 
could  hardly  pass  another.  It  was  very  manifest,  how- 
ever, that  there  was  much  wealth,  which  in  sad  con- 
trast with  the  squalid  wretchedness  also  apparent,  did 
not  argue  well  for  the  government  by  which  they  were 
controlled. 

Our  cargo  was  discharged  as  speedily  as  possible. 
In  the  meantime,  a  complete  suit  of  new  sails  being 
required,  a  man  was  sent  on  board  to  take  the  measure 
of  our  spars  ;  which  being  done,  the  sails  were  placed 


T8  UP    THE    MEDITERRAXE  .VN. 

in  the  hands  of  females  who  cut  and  made  them  in  the 
best  shape  and  in  an  incredibly  short  time.  Quite 
frequently,  when  not  engaged  with  ship  duties,  we  vis- 
ited the  different  places  of  note,  among  them  various 
scenes  of  amusement,  seeing  much  that  to  us  was  en- 
tirely new  and  strange. 

The  stores  were  usually  well-stocked  with  goods  of 
the  finest  texture,  the  productions  of  most  every  comi- 
try,  which  would  make  one's  mouth  water  to  pos- 
sess. 

On  Sunday,  (that  of  course  being  a  gala  day),  our 
ships  company  were  desirous  to  see  the  sights.  Ac- 
cordingly half  a  day  was  given  us  for  liberty ;  one 
watch  in  the  forenoon,  the  other  in  the  afternoon,  and 
the  captain  furnished  us  spending  money.  In  my 
wanderings  I  observed,  among  the  endless  variety  that 
took  my  eye,  two  very  nice  silk  shawls.  Eemembering 
my  sister  and  sweet-heart,  I  left  my  money  in  exchange 
for  them,  investing  some  little  in  trifles  for  myself. 
Goods  here  were  very  cheap,  and  I  found  that  my  in- 
vestment could  not  have  been  nearly  as  favorably 
made  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  , 

Soon  after,  as  our  flour  was  all  disposed  of,  ballast- 
ing the  ship  was  in  order,  a  trip  to  the  island  of  Evica, 
a  few  days  sail  to  the  southward,  being  contemplated. 
We  sailed  the  next  Sunday  morning,  with  a  free  sheet 
wind,  studding  sails  alow  and  aloft.  It  getting  to  be 
breakfast  time,  I  repared    to  the    galley    for    a  pot  of 


UP    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  79 

cocoa,  our  favorite  beverage  about  that  time.  A  ship, 
mate,  who  went  with  me  for  a  similar  purpose,  bailed 
from  the  coppers  his  well-firied  cup,  boiling  hot,  just 
as  T  was  in  the  act  of  reaching  for  some.  Passing  his 
out  over  my  back.  As  I  stooped  to  get  it,  a  loose 
rope  dangling  under  his  cup  caught  it,  capsizing  its 
contests  full  upon  my  back  !  I  thought  all  hands  were 
called, —  and  so  the}^  were.  My  comrades  gathered 
around  and  soon  relieved  me  of  my  flannel  shirt,  taking 
tvith  it  the  skin  from  the  whole  surface  of  my  back. 
I  didn't  want  any  more  cocoa  that  day.  The  captain, 
standing  by,  saw  the  accident,  falling  afoul  of  the 
careless  fellow,  beat  him  without  mercy,  while  vainly 
I  cried  for  him  to  desist,  as  the  fatal  turnover  was  un- 
intentional and  the  man  no  more  to  blame  than  my- 
self. "I  intend,''  said  the  captain,  "to  teach  him  to 
have  his  eyes  about  him."  To  help  the  matter,  the 
captain  brought  from  the  cabin  a  cup  of  rum,  with 
which  was  mixed  the  coarsest  of  brown  sugar,  and 
poured  it  over  my  lacerated  body,  nearly  depriving  me 
of  what  little  sense  I  had  left.  A  good  passage  to  the 
island  was  favorable  to  me,  and  upon  arriving  was 
furnished  by  a  Spanish  lady  with  a  quantity  of  cotton 
bats,  which  she  told  us  should  be  laid  on  after  being 
saturated  with  sweet  oil.  For  fourteen  days  and  nights 
I  could  only  lie  with  my  face  downward.  The  weather 
was  extremely  hot,  and  the  flies  so  troublesome  1  was 
almost    driven  to  desperation,  and  I  improved  so  slow- 


80  UP    THE    MEDITERRANEAN. 

ly  it  was  six  months  before  I  went  on  duty.  After 
the  wounds  were  healed,  the  cotton  stuck  out  all  over 
my  back ;  if  put  upon  exhibition,  I  am  quite  unable  to 
decide  what  kind  of  a  bird  I  should  have  been  taken, 
for.  But  to  me,  it  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  a 
cotton  plantation,  of  which  I  was  sole  proprietor. 

During  the  day,  our  sand  ballast  was  deliberately  dis- 
charged by  boating  it  ashore ;  but  when  darkness 
shielded  us  from  observation,  the  shovels  flew  lively  in 
throwing  it  over  the  side,  —  a  thing  strictly,  prohibited 
by  harbor  regulations.  Soon  the  work  of  re-loading 
began.  Our  cargo  was  brought  to  us  in  lighters,  and 
consisted  in  part  of  one  hundred  tons  of  salt,  forty  or 
fifty  cords  of  cork  in  sheets  as  large  as  a  good  sized 
door,  a  quantity  of  wines,  brandies,  sweet  oil,  almonds 
figs,  raisins,  filberts,  grapes  and  olives,  also  a  lot  of 
door-mats,  brooms  and  brushes,  manufactured  fiom  the 
grass  which  grew  very  abundantly  in  some  parts  of 
the  island.  The  casks  of  liquor,  like  the  rest  of  our 
freight,  were  first  landed  between  decks,  and  after 
wards  stowed  in  their  appropriate  place.  While  en- 
gaged in  stowing  the  lower  hold,  the  person  hooking 
on  to  the  casks  neglecting  to  chock  the  next  one  to 
that  just  lowered  away,  was  the  cause  of  no  little 
trouble  as  well  as  loss.  The  vessel  heeling  a  little,  the 
cask  between  decks  fetched  away,  and  crashing  down 
into  the  lower  hold,  stove  two  on  which  it  fell.  All 
hands  jumped  to  the  spot  and  succeeded  in  saving  half 


UP   THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  81 

a  cask  by  heading  it  up.  Night  soon  coming  on  it 
was  left.  A  short  time  after,  the  mate  discovering  only 
a  pair  of  feet  and  legs  hanging  outside  of  the  broken 
cask,  concluded  there  must  be  a  head  somewhere  ; 
which,  on  further  search,  he  found  in  close  proximity 
to  the  spirits.  He  took  him  by  the  heels  and  assisted 
him  into  proper  position,  asking  the  man  if  he  was 
not  weaned.  Told  him  he  looked  like  too  old  an  indi- 
vidual to  be  sucking,  and  if  he  didn't  take  more  care 
of  himself  he  would  be  drunk  as  the  "Divil,"  (being 
a  native  of  Nautacket,  he'  was  unable  to  say  Devil), 
It  was  this  sucker  who  was  to  take  the  first  anchor 
watch  for  the  night,  and,  as  readily  presumed,  before 
he  called  the  next  man  to  release  him  he  was  pretty 
well  smashed,  from  the  effects  of  another  pull  at  the 
wine  cask.  At  daylight  all  hands  were  called,  and  as 
no  morning  watch  appeared  on  deck,  inquiries  were 
made  as  to  who  stood  that  watch.  It  appeared  no  one 
was  called.  On  search  being  made,  Mr.  Faithful 
Guardian  of  the  night  was  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
previous  day's  accident.  lie  had  the  appearance  of  a 
man  who  had  been  in  close  confinement  for  a  number 
of  years,  and. looking  on  the  surroundings  in  amazment. 
Being  asked  why  the  watch  to  relieve  him  was  not 
called,  he  replied,  "  I  intended  to  speak  to  him,  but 
thinkmg  a  little  wine  for  th5  stomach's  sake,  had  bet- 
ter be  procured  first,  went  below,  and  for  the  life  of 
me  was  unable  to  find  my  way  up    again.     Ilave  been 


82  UP 'the  mediterranean. 

looking  around  half  the  night  for  the  stanchion  to 
climb  up  by,  but  think  some  one  has  taken  it  away, 
or  there  never  was  one  on  this  ship."  It  was  three 
days  before  he  got  straightened  out  so  he  could  walk 
a  crack,  which  he  practised,  usually  fetching  up 
in  the  lee-scuppers.  After  that  little  spree  he  was  a 
weaned  child,  never  afterward  evincing  the  least  incli- 
nation to  indulge.  He  was  one  of  our  very  best  men 
generous  to  a  fault,  and  kindly  disposed  to  every  one 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  With  my  long  expe- 
rience of  the  ups  and  downs  of  life,  I  am  firmly  of  the 
opinion  that,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  the  victim  of  in 
temperance  is  naturally  of  the  same  easy  and  generous 
disposition,  of  him  of  whom  we  have  told  the  .wine 
story.  But  in  this  case  of  our  captain  there  was  a 
grand  exception  to  a  general  rule,  for  to  have  found 
in  his  whole  machinery  a  single  redeeming  quality,  a 
microscope  of  the  greatest  power  would  have  been  re- 
quired. He  however  agreed  with  us  in  one  thing, 
which  was,  to  get  to  sea  as  quickly  as  possible,  and 
we  very  soon  completed  the  cargo  and  started  for 
home.  With  a  fair  wind,  we  got  along  nobly  the 
earlier  part  of  the  passage.  Our  ship,  running  ofi'  be- 
fore the  wind,  had  a  w:onderful  faculty  for  yawning 
about,  sometimes  shaking  the  studding  sails  first  on 
one  side  than  on  the  oth'er  ;  endeavoring*,  as  we  used 
to  say,  to  turn  round  and  examine  her  wake  to  see 
how  straight  she  went. 


UP    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  83 

Oue  day,  with  a  strong  breeze  and  all  sail  on  her, 
myself  and  one  other  at  the  .wheel  vainly  doing-  our 
very  best  to  keep  her  steady,  while  the  captain  stood 
by  cursii  g  us  roundly,  said  he  ''D  —  n  your  infernal 
souls,  let  go  the  wheel;  I.  will  steer  within  half  a  point." 
We  let  go,  but  stood  by  ready  to  take  hold  again 
when  required.  He  allowed  her  to  sheer,  shaking  the 
studding  sails  on  one  side,  when  he  said  he  had  not 
got  the  run  of  her  yet ;  directly  he  had  her  almost 
aback  the  other  way,  when  a  sea  struck  the  rudder 
under  the  starboard  run.  The  first  we  saw  was  the 
old  man  flying,  but  not  waiting  to  see  him  land,  we 
grabbed  the  wheel  and  in  an  instant  got  her  aU  right. 
That  was  more  than  could  be  said  of  the  skipper,  who 
had  learned  the  lesson  that  it  was  a  soft  thing  to  fly 
but  extremly  hard  alighting.  He  gathered  himself  up, 
in  a  most  indigant  manner  cursed  the  ship,  the  man  who 
built  her,  her  owners  and  the  place  where  she  was  con- 
structed. No  more  was  said  that  day  about  bad 
steering  or  crooked  wakes.  Kicks  and  cuffs  were  the 
order,  fore  and  aft,  wherever  his  pious  footstej)S  led 
him.  Every  man  on  board  the  ship  received  a  flog- 
ging some  time  during  the  voyage,  with  the  exception 
of  a  townsman  of  mine  and  myself.  We  had  agreed, 
if  any  one  escaped  his'  chastening  rod,  as  a  forfeit  to 
the  crew,  an  oyster  supper  should  be  furnished.  I 
endeavored  to  keep  clear  of  the  flogging  to  the  best  of 
my  abilites,  and    succeeded ;    not    that  I  feared    being 


84  UP    THE    MEDITEEEANEAN 

killed  or  seriously  injured,  but  did  not  fancy  the  name 
of  it.     On  one  occasion,  as  I  well  remember,  it  was  a 
lift  and  a  go,  or  just  fetched  clear.     For    some  trifling 
neglect,  the  captain,  in  company  with  his  mate,  called 
me  aft ;  a  dark  frown  gathered  on  his  brow  as  ho  com" 
menced  to  jaw  me    "  like  the  head  of    an    old  fiddle," 
said  he  ''you  want  a  d — n  good  thrashing,''  I  replied, 
*'  No  sir  ;  I  can  do   better  without  it/'    Turning  to  the 
mate  who  was    laughing,    to    hide    his  own    smile,  he 
ordered  me  to  go  forward.     I  went,  and  very  glad  was 
I  to  improve    the  opportunity.     Well,  for    so  uneasy  a 
ship,  we  got    along    tolerably.     One  night  in  the  Gulf, 
heavy  weather,  under  single  reef  topsails  fore   and    aft, 
our  watch  which    was  the    starboard  (bringing  twelve 
o'clock),  called    the    larboard  and    went    below.     Had 
hardly    gained    the    forecastle    before  all    hands    were 
called  to  double  reef.     It  was  raming   hard    au'l  blow- 
ing great  guns.     I  was  on  the  weather  of  the  fore-top- 
sail and  could    hear  the    captain  speaking  sharply,  but 
could  not  understand  what  he  said.     Directly  heard  his 
voice  again,  but    still  unable  to  comprehend    his    order 
was  in  hopes  that  those  nearer  to  him,  in   the  bunt  of 
the  sail,  would  be  able  to  answer  him.     The  third  time 
he  spoke  made    up    my  mind    that  it    was    time  some 
body  replied,  and  judging  that  he  was  only  making  use 
of  a  favorite   expression  of   his,  viz  :      "  Hurry     down 
there,"  I    replied.     "  Aye    aye,    sir,"  finished    reefing 
and  came  down.    All  hands  were  summoned  aft.    "  What 


UP    THE    MEDITEERANEAI?'.  85 

d — n  rascal  was  it  that  answered  me  from  that  yard 
arm  !'^  '' 'Twas  me,  sir,"  I  replied.  "Why  did  you 
answer  me  as  you  did,  and  how  many  times  did  you 
hear  me  ?"  I  heard  you  three  times,  but  did  not  un- 
derstand what  you  said,  and  waited  for  the  men  in  the 
bunt  to  reply,  till  thinking  you  would  get  out  of  pa- 
tience, I  answered  as  if  you  had  said  "bear  a  hand 
down."  "Well,"  said  he,  "  I  will  teach  you  to  reply 
to  me,  only,  when  you  get  ready.  Now  don't  one  of 
you  d — n  scamps  put  your  head  below  decks  to-night,  and 
you,  Mr.  Mate,  take  your  station  on  the  fore  scuttle, 
and  if  you  permit  a  man  to'  go  below  I  will  make  you 
suffer  for  it."  As  we  had  no  duty  to  perform  we  made 
a  lee  under  the  long-boat  that  was  in  her  chocks  on 
deck,  and  kept  out  of  the  rain.  A  few  moments  before 
the  time  arrived  to  go  on  watch  again,  the  captain  ap- 
peared on  deck.  Said  he,  "  if  you  have  come  to  the' 
conclusion  to  answer  me  the  next  time  I  speak,  you 
can  go  below."  I  told  him  it  had  always  been  my  in- 
tention to  answer  him  when  he  was  understood.  I 
thanked  him  for  his  offer  now  made  to  us,  but  as  only 
a  few  moments  remained  I  thought  it  barely  worth 
while  to  go  at  all,  and  furthermore  added  that  I  guess 
ed  we  might  be  able  to  stop  on  deck  a  couple  of  weeks 
if  he  said  so,  and  by  that  time  might  be  in   port. 

A  few  days  after,  under  three  top-sails,  jib,  spanker 
and  foresail,  it  becoming  moderate,  our,  wine-weaned 
shipmate    was    ordered  to    loose    the    top-gallant    sails. 


86  UP   THE   MEDITERPwAJ^EAN. 

"While  in  the  performance  of  this  duty,  while  crossing 
from  one  yardarm  to  the  other,  the  ship  lurched  and  he 
pitched  over  the  yard.  The  accident  was  unobserved 
at  the  time,  but  a  loud  report  on  the  water  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  stevedore  who  was  walking  on  the 
lee-quarter-deck,  which  was  discovered  to  be  the  strik- 
ing of  a  Tarpaulin  hat,  the  property  of  the  individual 
aloft ;  where,  upon  looking  up,  his  shadow  was  seen 
through  the  wet  sail.  The  Captain  immediately  catch- 
ing a  rope,  quickly  got  into  the  main-top,  to  find  the 
man  clinging  to  the  reef  points  of  the  main  top-sail. 
The  rope  was  thrown  over  him,  and  in  safety  he  was 
rescued  from  his  perilous  situation.  He  was  so  strain- 
ed from  his  over-exertion,  that  it  was  a  .number  of 
weeks  before  he  recovered.  Fortunate  was  he  in  being 
so  light-weighted,  or  his  voyage  would  most  probably 
have  been  ended  about  that  time  ;  for  had  he  missed 
the  points  that  were  so  illy  calculated  to  bear  a  heavy 
burden,  no  boat  that  we  had  •  was  in  condition  to  be 
lowered  for  his  rescue.  Well,  we  kept  jogging  along, 
sailing  dull,  (for  the  sea-clams  covered  our  bottom,  which 
in  those  daj^s  was  uncoppered)  until  the  25th.  of 
November,  when  we  made  the  Capes  of  Virginia.  Took 
a  pilot  up  the  Potomac  River,  and  on  the  last  day 
of  the  month  arrived  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  where  as  soon 
as  the  ship  was  secured  at  the  wharf,  she  was  seized^ 
and  her  hatchway  and  gangways  sealed  with  red  wax 
and  white  tape,  —  for  what  cause  have  never  yet  been 
able  to  learn.  I  never  trod  her  deck  again,  nor  did  I 
care  to.     Was  paid  off,  receiving  my  discharge. 


UP   THE   MEDITERRANEAN.  87 

Our  cook  on  the  voyage  just  -ended  ^was  a  white 
man  who  had  been  liberally  educated,  and  for  many 
years  had  taught  school.  His  inveterate  love'  of 
strong  drink  was  the  cause  of  his  turning  sailor,  and 
on  arriving  at  Alexandria,  (his  former  home,)  we  found 
the  desire  still  strong  upon  him.  "Now  boys,"  said 
he  to  us,  "yoy  are  in  want  of  a  boarding-house  ;  shall 
I  procure  one  for  you  ?''  We  accepted  his  kind  offer,  ' 
in  case  he  found  a  neat  and  clean  one.  The  money 
in  which  our  wages  were  paid  was  the  old  Southern, 
quite  valueless  at  the  North,  which  we  intended  to  get 
exchanged  before  leaving  for  home,  as  the  chances 
might  favor  us.  How  well  we  succeeded  the  sequel 
will  show. 

Upon  hearing  that  our  friend  had   engaged    quarters 
for  .us,  our    dunnage  was  conveyed  to  the  place  desig- 
nated.    Four  composed  our    party,    who    were   to    pay 
three  dollars    per    week.      Arriving    at    the    boarding- 
house,  the  landlord  was    consulted    in    regard    to    the 
disposition  of  our  baggage    &c.,    when    a    small    room 
used  for  such  purposes  was  pointed  out  to  us,  and  we 
left  it  there      It  was  between  ten    and    eleven  in    the 
forenoon    that  we  entered    the    reception  room  of    our 
hotel  finding  it    already    pretty  -well    filled  with    lewd 
women  and    profligate  men,  black    and    white,    sailors 
and  landsmen,  some  drunk  and  fighting,  others  coarse- - 
ly  swearing  and  singing  the  vilest  productions  of  vice 
and  ignorance,  altogether  having  a  jolly   good  time  as 


88  '  UP   THE   MEDITEERANEAX. 

they  termed  it,  and  it  might  have  been  in  their  esti- 
mation, but  I  thought  it  the  toughest  crew  I  had  ever 
put  up  with,  and  rather  guessed  the  man  could  not 
"keep  a  hotel."  After  waitiog  till  about  three  o'clock, 
the  landlord's  wife  .appeared  "three  seas  over,"  and 
announced  dinner.  Taking  our  places  at  the  table,  we 
found  that  the  food  was  either  burned  badly  or  raw 
entirely  ;  for  which  the  wife  was  rebuked  in  no  very 
refined  language  by  her  amiable  companion.  It  did 
not  take  many  minutes  to  satisfy  my  appetite ;  or  at 
least  to  finish  my  attempt  to  do  so.  When  the  hour  for 
retiring  approached,  hoping  to  meet,  with  better 
success  in  our  lodgings  than  with  our  table  fare,  we 
asked  the  Boss  to  show  us  our  room.  He  pointed  to 
a  garret  hole,  where,  tumbling  up  a  rickety  stairwa}^ 
we  found  two  beds.  Pairing  off,  feeling  pretty  well 
"played,"  we  were  soon  under  the  rags  of  which  the 
bedding  was  composed  Remembering  that  it  was  late 
in  the  Fall,  and  observing  that  the  roof  overhead  was 
unshingled,  so  that  moon  and  stars  were  plainly  to  be 
seen,  imagined  that  before  morning  we  might  possibly 
be  able  to  keep  cool ;  this,  however,  was  not  the 
case,  for  scarcely  had  we  composed  ourselves  with  the 
reflection  that  we  were  out  of  the  company  so  loath- 
some to  us,  ere  we  were  made  aware  of  the  presence 
of  other  enemies  whose  friendship  they  were  determined,  . 
uninvited,  to  thrust  upon  us.  Who  that  has  ever  en- 
joyed   the    luxury   of  trying  to  sleep  in  a  place  infest- 


UP  THE  IVIEDITEERANTEAN.  89 

ed  with  bed-bugs,  has  not  some  little  idea  of  our 
situation?  With  one  accord  four  men  assembled  them- 
selves in  council,  and  agreed  that  to  try  to  sleep  was 
a  useless  undertaking.  Accordingly  we  dressed  our 
selves  in  order  to  be  ready  for  a  skeedaddle  in  case 
affairs  grew  any  worse,  and  after  a  long  and  sleeples 
night  we  left  the  apartment  with  the  serious  intention 
of  finding  accommodations  of  a  superior  order.  Asked 
the  landlord  for  the  bill  of  our  indebtedness,  as  we 
were  going  to  leave.  lie  only  charged  us  three  dol- 
lars each,  which,  taking  into  consideration  the  fact 
that  we  still  lived  ;  was  not  very  extravagant. 

I  observed  on  going  into  the  street,  across  the  way, 
a  small  sign  on  which,  on  close  inspection,  we  read, 
*'  Civil  Boarding.''  "  Here,"  said  I  to  my  companions, 
"is  where  we  must  try  to  get;  that  sign  suits  me 
much  better."  Over  we  went  and  knocked  at  the  door, 
which  was  opened  by  a  man  who  might  have  been 
sixty  or  seventy  years  old.  We  informed  him  that  wo 
were  in  quest  of  a  boarding-house,  and  his  sign  indi- 
cating that  he  took  boarders,  we  had  called  to  see 
about  it.  "  What  is  your  occupation  ? "  said  he. 
"  Sailors,"  we  replied.  "  Oh  no  I  on  no  account  can  I 
have  sailor  boarders, — cannot  think  of  it  for  a  moment. 
Dreadful  stories  are  told  of  them,  and  1  have  two 
daughters  in  my  house;  it  is  impossible  to  accommodate 
you,  you  must  look  further.  "But,"  said  I,  "  what 
do  you  take  us  for  ?     Do  we  look  like  very  bad  men  ? 


90  UP  THE  MEDITEEEANEAN 

We  stopped  last  night  across  the  way,  but  we  don't 
fancy  such  a  place  •  We  can  behave  as  men,  only  let 
us  have  a  trial  and  you  shall  have  no  reason  to  regret 
it."  "Well,"  said  he,  "your  leaving  the  other  house 
is  a  good  spoke  in  your  wheel  at  any  rate,  not  sup- 
posing any  place  too  bad  for  sailors."  He  called  his 
wife,  we  repeated  what  we  had  said  to  the  old  gent 
and  assured  her  if  she  would  take  us  on  trial  if  any- 
thiug  went  wrong  we  would  leave.  She  should  be  sorry, 
she  told  us,  to  have  bad  men  in  the  house  where  she 
had  daughters,  but  thought,  if  we  would  be  very  civil 
she  would  take  us.  Very  glad  that  we  made  the 
change,  and  remained  there  until  we  started  for  our 
northern  homes.  On  one  occasion  was  pained  and 
surprised  to  see  one  of  our  men  somewhat  elevated,  in 
a  grog-shop ;  we  took  him  out  and  got  him  home, 
fearful  that  our  flit  was  now  all  spilled  over.  I  told 
him  as  we  entered  the  house  to  quietly  lean  on  me, 
that  we  might  get  him  to  bed  without  the  knowledge 
of  the  inmates;  but  just  in  the  wrong  time  he  fetched 
away,  tumbled  against  the  door,  creating  quite  a  sen- 
sation and  bringing  one  of  the  girls  to  the  hall.  Seeing 
that  it  could  not  be  hid  from  her,  I  told  her  the  story 
promised  her  there  should  be  no  trouble,  and  asked 
her  ;n  kindness  not  to  let  the  old  folks  into  the  dis- 
agreeable secret.  To  this  she  assented,  and  it  passed 
off  all  right.  This  was  the  last  time  he  was  induced 
to  take  a  treat  from  his    shipmates.     We    enjoyed  our 


UP   THE   MEDITERPtAIsEA:^".  91 

stay  very  much,  the  people  were  very  kind,  and  every 
thing  was  made  as  pleasant  for  us  as  possible. 

At  this  early  period  few  steamers  and  fewer  railroads 
were  in  use  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers,  and 
the  season  at  that  particular  time  was  so  far  advanced 
that  sailing  vessels,  even,  were  hard  to  find  on  which 
a  passage  could  be  secured  ;  but  after  some  delay  we 
found  a  brig  of  one  hundred  tons  loading  with  flouer 
and  flax-seed  for  New  York,  and  two  of  us  agreed  to 
wOrk  our  passage  to  that  port.  As  the  money  we  re- 
ceived from  our  late  voyage  (as  already  intimated)  was 
hardly  redeemable  at  the  north,  and  a  dollar  of  it  in 
scrip  would  nearly  fill  one's  hat  it  was  policy  in  us  to  ex- 
change what  we  could,  getting  one  dollar  northern  for 
two  dollars  of  the  southern.  As  so  large  a  discount 
was  unprofitable,  we  concluded  to  invest  a  part  in 
flour,  which  I  did,  putting  it  on  board  the  ship  on 
freight.  As  the  time  drew  near  for  sailing,  the  girls 
of  our  household  were  wishing  us  the  good  fortune  to 
get  frozen  in,  so  that  we  should  have  to  remain 
through  the  winter.  Alas  for  poor  human  nature  I 
they  were  destined  to  disappointment ;  the  weather 
remaining  moderate  until  we  were  ready  for  sea.  As 
a  parting  gift,  however,  they  baked  up  a  lot  of  nice 
cakt?s  for  us  to  take  along ;  which,  though  not  required 
for  the  purpose,  was  a  constant  reminder  of  dear  friends 
in  a  strange  land.  They  accompanied  us  to  the  ship, 
and  when  our   moorings   were   taken    in,  and   the  fare 


92  UP  THE  MEDITEERANEAH. 

wells  exchanged,  the  tears  were  seen  to  course  down 
their  cheeks  "like  seaweed  on  a  clam.''  Under  head. 
way,  passing  out  of  hearing,  with  fitting  regrets  we 
looked  back  to  the  white  handkerchiefs  that  waved  a 
final  adieu ;  for  we  never  again  met,  but  their  kindness 
has  never  been  forgotten. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


ox    THE    HOME    STRETCH. 


I^^J^E  had  a  good  run  down  the  river,  a  fair  wind 
and  plenty  of  it.  Coming  to  anchor  off  Port 
Comfort,  the  captain  and  two  men  went  up  to 
Norfolk,  and  in  the  fore  part  of  next  day  came  on 
board,  bringing  with  them  a  small  quarter  of  beef  and 
half  a  barrel  of  peach  brandy  to  wash  it  down  with 
Weighed  anchor,  bound  to  Sandy  Hook.  The  wind 
was  free  and  instead  of  giving  the  vessel  the  proper 
course  she  hauled  out  to  seaboard,  pretty  well  out  at 
that,  when  I  made  bold  to  ask  the  skipper  his  object 
in  steering  such  a  course,  when  he  was  bound  for 
New  York :  "  for  you  will  never  get  there  at  this 
rate.  ^'  I  am  going  to  get  an  offing  ;  I  do  not  wish 
to  fetch  up  on  the  Jersey  shore  in  case  the  wind  comes 
to  the  eastward."  Said  I,  "you  will  be  glad  to  get 
hold  of  the  land  ;  the  next  change  we  will  have  a 
north-wester  "  Towards  night  it  began  to  breeze  on 
quite  smartly,  and  it  was  rot  long  before  we  had 
orders  to  send  down  the  top-gallant  yards,  reef  topsails 
and  take  in  jib;  and  the  four  men  before  the  mast  had 

93 


94  ON    THE    HOME    STEETCH.     . 

something  to  do.  Before  morning  the  gale  took  us 
butt  end  foremost.  For  three  days  and  nights  we  held 
on  as  best  we  could,  making  but  little  headway.  It 
was  extremely  cold.  Our  vessel  was  an  old  bottom 
that  had  been  re-topped,  the  new  work  was  too  stout 
for  the  old  and  badly  worked  where  the  parts  met; 
consequently  leaked  badly,  and  before  we  were  aware 
of  the  fact  any  quantity  of  water  was  in  the  hold, 
which  caused  the  flax-seed  to  swell  by  getting  wet, 
bursting  the  casks  which  contained  it  and  choking  tlie 
pump  boxes.  Quite  often  were  we  obliged  to  draw 
out  the  boxes  ami  wash  down  the  pumps  in  order  to 
work  them  at  all.  The  ice  and  seed  together  about 
the  deck  made  it  very  diflBcult  to  keep  our  feet.  So 
short  handed  were  we  and  the  pumps  goin^-  without 
cessation,  even  when  a  fair  wind  came  up  we  could 
not  be  spared  to  make  extra  sail.  On  the  fourth  day, 
one  of  the  four  at  the  pumps  and  attending  to  other 
duties  about  the  ship,  was  taken  sick,  leaving  two  be- 
sides myself;  while  our  brave  captain  and  his  mate,  as 
drunk  as  beasts,  were  lounging  in  the  cabin.  One  of 
the  three  would  usually  get  a  little  rest,  while  the 
pumping,  steering  and  ship-work  generally  were  per- 
formed by-  the  other  two.  When  one  became  cold  at 
the  wheel,  he  would  exchange  work  and  get  warmed 
up  pumping,  so  changing  back  to  the  helm  to  cool  off 
again.  Fires  were  not  often— kindled,  for  but  little 
cooking    was    done,    peach-brandy    seemed    to  answer 


,    ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH.  9^ 

every  purpose  for  the  officers,  and  hard  tack  and  raw- 
meat  was  good  enough  for  the  sailors,  —  especially  as 
we  didn't  have  much  labor  to  perform.  The  captain 
tried  once  to  get  an  observation,  requiring  two  men 
to  keep  him  on  his  feet,  but  I  guess  the  use  the  at- 
tempt was  applied  to  "you  might  pyt  into  your  eye' 
without  in  the  least  obstructing  the  vision.  Twice  we 
made  Long  Island,  but  from  lack  of  assistance  in  in- 
creasing the  sail  we  were  blown  back.  The  last  time 
we  nearly  approached  Montogue  Point,  of  which  we 
informed  the  captain,  and  asked  if  we  had  not  better 
put  into  Newport?"  ''No,"  he  growled  out;  "I 
know  your  plan,  yoa  want  to  leave  me,  and  then 
where  should  I  be  ?  "  He  ordered  us  to  let  her  run 
into  fifteen  fathoms,  and  tack  ship;  "be  sure  you  do 
not  get  into  less  than  fifteen  at  any  rate."  Sick  oi 
such  a  cruise  and  about  used  up  generally,  we  desired 
to  use  our  own  judgment  and  get  in  as  soon  as  the 
wind  would  allow  us.  We  spoke  to  the  man  who 
went  below  sick  to  come  and  take  the  wheel  while  we 
13ut  her  on  the  starboard  tack.  The  wind  favoring  us, 
we  lashed  the  wheel,  gave  her  the  jib,  shook  reefs  out 
of  the  topsails,  hoisted  them  up  and  let  her  run  a  lit- 
tle while,  then  hove  her  aback  to  sound  ;  not'  that  we 
were  very  anxious  to  get  the  exact  soundings,  for  we 
could  guess  near  enough  to  suit  us  without  trying, 
but  4;o  mislead  those  below  anii  keep  their  suspicions 
quieted.     Our  orders  were  given  in  loud    and   exciting 


96  ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH. 

tones;  so  that  the  Captain  and  Mate,  if  awake,  might 
imagine  everything  correct.  "Clear  away  there  V 
"Pass  the  leadl  "Twenty  fathoms !''  "all  right!'' 
"Fill  away,  brace  the  foretopsails  V  &c.  We  let  her 
run  nearly  another  hour,  backed  foretopsail  again  and 
sounded.  Got  eight  fathoms,  but  kept  it  to  ourselves, 
and  as  the  depth  was  passed  aloud  no  less  than  twenty 
was  reported. 

The  next  forenoon  land  was  seen  on  the  larboard 
bow  proving  to  be  the  Highlands  of  Neversink,  on 
the  Jersey  Coast.  The  captain  came  on  deck  and  was 
surprised  to  see  land  so  handy  to  us.  Said  he,  "Where 
are  we  now?  How  in  the  d  —  1  did  you  get  here?'' 
We  did  not  inform  him  that  we  had  been  keeping  in 
smooth  water  along  shore.  Soon  a  Sandy  Hook  Pilot 
boat  discovered  us,  ran  quite  near  and  hailed  us,  to 
see  if  we  wanted  a  pilot.  Informing  the  captain  he 
replied,  "If he  has  a  Branch  he  can  board  us,  if  not 
I  don't  want  him."  Rounding  too,  he  again  asked  if  we 
wanted  a  pilot.  "Yes,  come  aboard."  Gaining  the 
deck,  his  first  words  were  "Call  all  hands  and  get 
up  the  to'gallant  yards."  we  told  him  all  hands  were 
called.  "How  long  have  you  been  out?"  he  asked. 
"Sixteen  days,  and  for  twelve  of  them  three  consti- 
tuted "all  hands.'  "  "  'Leaking  as  you  do,  I  should 
rather  guess  you  have  had  a  drag  of  it."  The  wind 
hauled  to  the  eastward,  and  finally  flattet  out  calm.  I 
told  the  pilot  we  had  been  reefed    for   the    whole    pas- 


WHALING     VOYAGE    OF    THE     SHIP  APOLLO.  OY 

sage  ;  he  replied  that  it  was  tough,  but  couldn't  j^ou 
get  up  the  main-top-gallant  yard  ?  We  thought  we 
could  and  did  so,  and  set  the  topgallant 

Just  at  night,  got  in  by  the  hook  ;  wind  very  light 
but  fair.  A  little  packet-sloop  passed  us  about  this  time 
having  on  board  an  excursion  party  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen.  Our  captain,  being  in  the  condition  of  the 
Philistines  on  a  certain  occasion, — pretty  Avell  slewed — 
commencing  to  use  some  slang  and  blackguardism  for 
his  special  benefit,  was  told  by  the  pilot  that  he .  had 
better  keep  his  jaw  to  himself  or  he  would  get  more 
than  he  bargained  for ;  and  in  bock  answers  from  the 
company  he  was  soon  made  to  feel  like  the  fool  that 
he  really  was. 

The  tide  was  about  making  against  us,  the  pilot  was 
was  pretty  well  forward  and  ordering  some  one  to  drop 
the  end  and  ascertain  what  the  vessel  was  made  sternway, 
so  he  that  might  drop  the  kedge-anchor  uTider  foot  and 
hold  what  we    had  made. 

I  hove  the  lead  and  found  we  were  going  but 
little  ;  throwing  again  and  againuntil  all  headway 
was  lost,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she  fell  astern  a 
trifle,  of  which  1  informed  the  pilot.  The  captain 
looked  over  the  .  side,  and  observing  bubbles  passing 
along  in  the  current,  said,  "It's  a  damn  lie  ;  she 
is  going  three  knots. '^  The  pilot  came  aft  "on 
the  double  quick,^'  (as  soldiers  say),  grabbed  him 
by    the  shoulders,    and    pitched    him    head    and    heels 


98  WHALING    VOYGE  OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO, 

down  the  cabin  gangway,  telling  him  he  never  wanted 
to  see  his  face  again.  "Do  you  think  the  man  with 
the  lead-line  in  his  hands  don't  know  when  the  vessel 
is  going  ahead  or  astern  ?  I  am  manager  and  pilot  of 
this  craft,  and  if  anything  happens  to  her  the  respon- 
sibility is  mine  .  Furthermore,  I  don't  wonder  these 
poor  fellows  have  been  sixteen  days  getting  from  the 
Capes  of  Virginia  ;  My  greatest  surprise  is  that  you 
have  ever  reached  where  the  services  of  a  pilot  are 
required."  Next  day  we  arrived  at  New  York.  And 
now  the  first  thing  in  order  was  to  hunt  up  a  chance 
to  get  home,  and  falling  in  with  a  Nantucket  sloop  I 
agreed  to  take  passage  on  her.  The  next  thing  was 
to  secure  my  flow  ;  a  part  of  it  was  all  we  could  get 
at,  and  the  sloop  could  not  wait  for  us,  so  still  re- 
mained until  the  balance  was  discovered. 

Procured  another  chance  on  board  a  New  Bedford 
vessel  ready  to  sail  in  a  few  days.  Found  by  selling 
my  flour  here  I  should  sav^e  freighting  it  but  would 
have  to  lose  one  dollar  on  each  barrel,  and  so  concluded 
to  take  it  to  New  Bedford,  Did  so,  and  arrived  the 
next  night,  but  to  learn  that  no  packets,  or  sail-boats 
even,  were  soon  to  leave,  for  Edgartown.  After  a 
fruitless  search  for  such  a  craft  as  seemed  desirable, 
we  fell  in  with  an  old  gentleman  who  was  owner 
of  a  fish-boat,  with  whom  we  concluded  a  bargain, 
to  be  carried  with  our  baggage  to  Edgartown,  if  we 
would    wait    for    a     favorable  time,     as  his     bout  was 


WHALING    VOYAGE     OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  99 

quite  old  and  rickety.  We  rather  urged  him  to  start 
imme "Hatel J,  as  our  expenses  were  accumlating,  and 
our  anxiety  to  get  home  was  not  diminishing.  lie 
told  us  that  it  was  altogether  unsuitable  to  attempt 
to  cross  Buzzard's  Bay  with  so  strong  a  breeze,  for, 
siid  he,  after  getting  out  of  the  lee,  it  is  both  blowy 
and  rugged.  We  still  hung  on  for  a  trial,  finally,  telling 
him  that  if  he  could  not  go  then,  we  should  try  what  we 
could  do  with  some  other  boatman.  Not  being  a  man 
of  means,  dependent  on  his  daily  earnings,  it  was  hard 
to  sacrifice  the  ten  dollars  in  prospect,  and  preferring 
to  run  some  risk  rather  than  do  so,  said  he  would  try  it, 
but  did  not  like  the  idea  of  drowning  us.  Well,  it 
didn't  seem  to  us,  who  had  roughed  it  so  strangely  on 
the  ocean,  that  there  could  be  much  danger  of  our 
drowning  after  getting  so  near  home ;  yet  ma^nj  a  poor 
sailor  we  might  have  called  to  mind,  had  perished 
when  his  own  fireside  warmth  could  almost  be  felt.  The 
flour  I  was  compelled  to  sell  at  a  loss  of  one  dollar 
and  a  quarter  a  barrel,  concluding  that  my  speculative 
genius  was  not  of  the  most  brilliant  grade. 

We  got  urder  way  and  headed  for  Wood's  Hole, 
Avind  heavy  aud  about  North-west.  We  had  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance  before  it  was  necessary  to  shorten 
sail,  quite  a  sea  running,  and  the  gale  right  after  us. 
It  did  not  require  much  time  to  make  us  sick  of  our 
bargain,  and  then  we  began  to  think  what  fools  we 
were  for  starting ;  wished  ourselves  high  and  dry  where 


100  ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH. 

we  came  from.  Every  exertion  was  made  by  bailing  to 
keep  the  boat  from  sinking,  while  the  old  gent  held 
out  the  cheering  assurance  that  as  we  had  not  yet  seen 
the  worst  of  it,  our  minds  might  be  made  up  that  we 
should  go  down,  that  it  was  impossible  to  weather  it. 
To  get  back  was  out  of  the  question.  We  could  carry 
no  sail,  and  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves  in  a  boat 
unseaworthy  in  every  particular.  I  asked  him  if  there 
was  no  port  to  leeward,  at  which  we  might  possibly 
find  a  shelter  by  letting  her  drift.  He  replied,  "  if  the 
boat  can  live  to  reach  it ;  put  her  dead  before  the 
wind,"  and  kept  on  bailing.  We  now  had- a  foresail  on 
her  to  steady  her ;  the  spreet  was  taken  out  and  the 
sheet  let  go  entirely,  while  the  sail  was  allowed 
to  blow  straight  out  over  the  bow.  We  got  to  the 
entrance  of  a  little  bay,  near  by  the  remains  of  an  old 
wharf,  falling  however  to  the  leeward  of  it,  and  the 
boat,  being  unable  to  bear  the  sail  necessary  to  reach 
it,  and  seeing  a  house  quite  near  shore,  about  two 
miles  beyond,  we  thought  best  to  attempt  to  reach  it. 
We  kept  on  until  within  a  musket  shot  of  the  place, 
and  fetched  up  on  a  point  surrounded  by  porridge  ice, 
which  we  were  unable  to  penetrate.  Wet  and  cold  as 
we  were,  it-  was  certain  that  we  could  not  long  live  on 
board  the  boat.  Taking  the  tiller,  I  sounded,  and  found 
the  ice  and  water  would  reach  about  to  my  waistband. 
Overboard  I  went,  took  the  old  gentleman  of  seventy 
years  upon  my  back  and   landed  him    safely  on    shore  ; 


ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH.    "  101 

returning,  conveyed  one  companion  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  then  the  other.  We  then  made  tracks  for  the 
house,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  the  snow  eighteen 
inches  on  a  level,  and  the  thermometer,  ranging  in  the 
vicinity  of  zero.  Before  I  arrived,  was  as  white  as  a 
tallow  candle,  and  about  as  stiff.  We  went  in.  The 
lady  of  the  house  was  an  acquaintance  of  our  old  skipper, 
and,  said  she,  "  for  Heaven's  sake,  Capt.  Pease,  where 
in  marcy  have  you  come  from?"  ''Well,-'  said  he, 
"  these  young  men  would  leave  me  no  peace,  till  1 
would  start  for  the  Vineyard  with  them.  A  monstrous 
fire  was  in  the  old-fas nioned  fire-place,  crackling  and 
roaring  in  a  masterly  manner,  and  I  can  assure  you  it 
was  the  sweetest  music  to  which  I  ever  lent  my  ears. 
It  melted  me  completely,  as  the  floor  around  most 
plainly  indicated,  but  for  which  the  old  lady  protested 
she  didn't  care  a  whit,  so  long  as  we  were  making 
ourselves  comfortable.  That  old  fire-place,  though,  I 
never  shall  forget.  Like  many  others  of  olden  times,  it 
should  have  been  preserved,  laid  up  in  the  archives  of 
the  nation,  as  a  relic  of  its  greatness,  and  the  inex- 
pressible comfort  it  afforded.  Even  now,  as  I  behold 
its  generous  dimensions,  capable  of  taking  at  one  time 
a  good  half  cord  of  wood,  which  was  piled  in  without 
any  regard  to  expense,  I  am  led  to  say,  in  the  words 
of  a  very  dear  friend. 

''Your  kindness  I  never  can  forget, 

'Tis  only  exceeded  by  your  extreme  good  looks.'' 


102  ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH. 

The  good  man  of  the  house  soon  after  entered,  and 
with  no  little  surprise,  asked  where  under  the  sun  we 
came  from,  receiving  about  the  same  reply  from  our 
old  gent  as  did  his  wife.  These  crazy  young  men  over 
persuaded  me  to  start  for  Edgartown,  but  as  we  could 
get  nowhere  else,  we  are  compelled  to  throw  ourselves  on 
your  hospitality.  And  now  as  we  are  in  a  good  condi- 
tion from  the  redeeming  virtues  of  warm  drink  and  a 
generous  fire,  we  would  like  to  have  your  oxen  yoked. 
Immediately  repairing  to  the  barn,  the  cattle  were 
hitched  into  the  cart  and  to  the  shore  we  proceeded, 
got  a  line  from  the  boat,  made  fast  to  the  team,  and 
with  "  Gee  up  !  ''  ''  Gee  Oh  ! ''  "  Get  up  along  there," 
ashore  came  tlie  boat  with  all  our  baggage,  which  was 
put  into  the  cart,  and  after  turning  the  boat  over,  for 
better  preservation,  was  taken  to  the  house,  anticipat- 
ing a  tarry  there  from  the  general  look  around  us,  it  still 
snowing  hard  and  freezing  fast.  The  old  gentleman 
was  feeling  uneasy,  fearful  that  his  board  would  more 
than  overrun  the  amount  to  be  received,  thinking 
strongly  of  footing  it  the  next  day  around  the  foot  of 
the  bay,  frequently  calling  himself  a  fool  for  getting 
into  such  a  scrape.  His  better  judgment  prevailed,  and 
it  was  considered  worse  than  useless  to  attempt  it. 
Thus  do  the  aged  sometimes  learn  that  experience  is 
a  teacher  still.  We  told  him,  however,  to  make  him- 
self comfortable,  that  his  expenses  would  be  attended 
to  by  us  ;  whereupon  he  became  more  reconciled. 


ON    THE    HOME    STRETCH.  103 

In  a  few  days  the  weather  became  tolerably  good, 
but  still. blowing  something  of  a  breeze.  We  told  our 
hospitable  friends  not  to  do  for  us*  anything  out  of 
their  usual  way,  as  we  would  like  moderate  fare,  on 
account  of  the  length  of  our  purses,  but  that  we 
wished  to  pay  them  for  all  the  trouble  we  caused.  Ris- 
ing very  early  a  short  time  after,  was  pleased  to  find 
a  bright  starlight  morning,  with  not  a  breath  of  wind 
moving.  Called  all  hands,  got  ready  for  a  start,  con- 
veyed our  dunnage  to  the  shore,  reballasted  the  boat 
hitched  on  the  cattle,  and  soon  (after  paying  our  bills,, 
which  were  much  less  than  we  "expected,)  were  rowing 
for  dear  life  towards  home,  with  our  skipper  at  the 
helm.  The  prospect  of  soon  greeting  the  loved  ones 
lent  additional  strength  and  muscle  to  our  efforts,  and 
over  the  water  we  flew  like  a  thing  of  life,  almost  for- 
getting the  old  hulk  which  had  so  nearly  proved  our 
coffin.  It  continued  calm  until  near  the  harbor  entrance, 
when  the  wind  hauled  out  ■  North-east  and  a  snow-storm 
set  in.  We  kept  on  and  struck  her  on  the  shore  be- 
tween the  wharves,  got  out  our  property  and  with  the 
help  of  friends  at  hand,  hauled  the  boat  up  and  turned 
her  over.  Sent  our  skipper  to  the  Tavern,  promising  to 
settle  his  keeping. 

For  a  month  or  more  the  weather  was  about  as  bad 
as  needs  be,  cold,  blowey,  snowing,  and  a  considerably 
bad  time  generally.  About  this  time  a  man  was  landed 
from  a  vessel,  who  wanted  a  passage  to    New  Bedford 


104  ON   THE    HOME    STRETCH. 

We  waited  upon  Capt.  Pease,  paid  him  for  the  services 
rendered  us,  and  engaged  him  to  take  the  passenger. 
When  ready  to  start,  by  our  assistan(?ie  the  boat  was 
put  into  the  water  and  all  preparations  for  sailing  gen- 
erally attended  to  ;  we  then  bade  him  farewell.  Learned 
afterwards  that  he  arrived  safely,  but  I  never  saw  him 
again.  Glad  enough  to  be  once  more  at  home,  had 
saved  some  money,  by  which  I  was  enabled  to  make  a 
few  little  presents  to  the  friends  I  so  often  had  enter- 
tained fears  of  never  more  meeting. 

"Home  again,  home  again. 
From  a  foreign  shore, 
And  Oh  !  it  fills  my  heart  with  joy. 
To  meet  my  friends  once  more 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


A    TPaP    TO    NEW   HAVEN, 


FTER  remaining  about  home,  attending  to  the 
spring  fishing  at  the  south  side  of  the  Vineyard, 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  started  after  a  ship 
which  was  to  be  fitted  for  a  whaling  cruise,  being  the 
first  one  that  our  Islanders  had  ever  put  into  that  bus- 
iness. I  was  already  under  partial  agreement  to  go 
as  mate  of  a  coaster,  when  I  met  Capt.  Jethro  Daggett, 
who  informed  me  that  they  had  concluded  the  bargain  for 
a  ship,  of  which  he  was  to  have  the  command,  and  he 
wished  me  •to  go  the  voyage  in  her.  At  first  I  refused, 
telling  him  of  my  engagement,  and  that  my  wages, 
were  to  be  twenty-five  dollars  per  month.  His  reply  was, 
"  You  had  far  better  go  with  me  ;  you  will  realize 
much  more  on  a  vo^^age  whaling,  than  in  the  coasting 
business.''  He  talked  so  much  that  finally,  like  a  great 
fool,  I  said  I  would  go.  Said  he,  ''  I  wish  yoa  to  be  on 
hand  to  go  to  New  Haven  and  assist  in  bringing 
the  ship  here.  Accordingly  on  the  first  of  Ma^^  1816 
in  company  with  a  boat's  crew  took  a  whale  boat,  our 
second  mate  in  charge,  and  started.  Got  up  to  Vine 
yard  Haven,  (  or,  as  it  was  then  called, )  Holmes'  Hole, 
and  a  fresh  westerly  wind    drawing    down    the    Sound, 

105 


106  A  TRIP  TO  NEW  HAVEN. 

thought  best  to  land,  which  we  did,  near  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor,  at  a  place  called  Frog  Alley.  Stopped 
with  a  man  named  David  Dunham,  as  too  much  wind 
prevailed  to  proceed.  After  getting  dinner,  some  of 
our  party  concluded  to  go  up  to  the  village  to  see  the 
fashions,  and  have  a  chat  with  the  girls  ;  for  at  that 
time,  as  now,  they  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being 
quite  sociable,  intelligent  and  agreeable.  Changing  our 
clothing,  a  little  ambitious  to  make  as  favorable  an  im- 
pression as  possible,  we  fancied,  ( scanning  our  good 
looks,)  that  we  would  "  pass  in  a  crowd.''  Whether  it 
was  the  hope  of  meeting  such  a  reception  as  I  had 
pictured,  or  wish  to  show  my  companions  my  agility, 
has  never  been  fully  decided  in  my  own  mind ;  yet 
from  some  cause  I  did  undertake  to  try  an  experiment 
which  proved  both  very  silly  and  extremely  injurious. 

For  the  benefit  of  you  who  are  listening  to  me,  I 
will  relate  how  it  turned  out,  hoping  from  experience,  a 
lesson  may  be  imparted,  leading  you,  in  all  the  affairs 
of  life  to  ''look  before  you  leap.''  In  front  of  the 
house,  on  a  line  with  the  hill  running  parallel  with  the 
shore,  was  a  high  board  fence.  Thinking  the  nearest 
way  round  was  to  jump  over  it,  gathering  myself  for 
a  good  start  I  dashed  along,  throwing  my  full  strength 
into  the  leap.  The  fence  was  cleared,  but  not  so  the 
crumbled  wall  of  an  old  cellar  on  which  I  landed.  In- 
stead of  the  green  sward  on  a  level  with  the  fence,  as 
I  imagined,  I  went  to  the  bottom  of  a  pit    fifteen    feet 


A     TRIP    TO     NEW     HAVEN.  107 

deep,  and  found  the  rocks  hard  and  flinty.  My  ankle 
bone  was  split  open,  and  numerous  other  slight  wounds 
on  various  parts  of  my  body  led  me  to  postpone  my 
intended  visit  indefinitely.  I  didn't  care  for  any  now 
clothes  that  day.  Was  helped  up  to  the  house  and  the 
old  lady  kindly  fixed  me  up  as  best  she  could.  My 
comrades  told  me  I  might  as  well  give  up  the  cruise 
and  take  a  carriage  home,  but  I  told  them  No  ;  I  had 
begun  it,  and  was  going  through  if  I  lived.  A  salve 
was  furnished  me,  and  in  the  morning  we  started,  the 
men  helping  me  along  ;  quite  reluctantly,  however,  for 
as  the  foot  was  quite  badly  swollen,  they  were  fearful 
of  the  result  if  I  kept  on.  With  my  foot  elevated  to 
to  the  thwart  in  front  of  me,  I  assisted  in  rowing  the 
boat,  until  getting  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Sound,  saw 
a  schooner  ahead,  we  sailed  and  rowed  together  and 
gained  up  with  her  considerably,  when  we  fired  several 
muskets  as  a  signal  for  her  to  heave  to.  AVhen  near 
enough  to  hail,  was  asked  what  we  wanted.  We 
asked  where  he  was  bound.  He  replied,  "New  York." 
Being  asked  for  a  tow,  ''  Yes,  come  aboard,"  said  he. 
We  did  so,  dropping  the  boat  astern.  Found  that  the 
captain  was  a  cripple  as  well  as  myself,  having  a 
broken  shoulder  received  from- the  main  gafl"  the  night 
before.  We  were  towed  to  Block  Island,  then  left  the 
vessel  in  a  calm.  Our  boat  reached  Black  Point,  a  lit- 
tle west  of  New  London,  where  we  landed.  The 
provisions  laid    in    for    our    cruise    consisted  of   a  bag 


108  A    TRIP    TO    NEW    HAVEN. 

of  hard-bread.  TakiDg  some  of  it  we  went  up  to  a 
house,  where  we  were  invited  in  by  a  young  lady,  who 
informed  us  that  her  parents  were  at  church,  it  being 
Sunday.  Told  her  we  would  like  some  milk  to  go 
with  our  bread,  whereupon  she  set  out  the  table  with 
a  large  pan  of  rich  looking  milk,  with  bowls  to  put  it 
in  for  each,  and  started  for  what  appeared  to  be  the 
parlor,  forgetful  that  bread  and  milk  was  difficult  to 
eat  with  one's  fingers.  She  apologized  and  brought  on 
the  spoons,  but  when  we  afterwards  perceived  a  young 
man,  doubtless  her  lover  ("Sparking''  Sunday  after- 
noon), she  was  readily  excused.  We  finished  our  meal 
and  asked  her  charge,  after  holding  a  consultation  with 
the  young  gent,  she  informed  us  it  w^as  two  dollars. 
Didn't  dispute  the  bill,  but  thought  it  rather  steep. 

Started  afresh,  not  much  wind,  but  rowed  until  night, 
then  put  into  a  little  harbor  and  lodged  on  board 
a  coaster.  Next  morning  made  another  start,  still 
using  "  white-ash "  for  a  breeze.  Stopped  next  about 
noon  in  a  nice  little  harbor  called  Sachem's  Head. 
Here  we  found  a  public  house,  and  had  a  good  meal 
the  first  since  leaving  Holmes  Hole  ;  thence  continued 
on,  arriving  at  New  Haven  just  at  night. 

The  ship  was  in  sight,-  all  rigged,  very  nicely  paint- 
ed, her  main  deck  chrome  yellow,  quarter-deck  prussian 
blue,  and  as  gay  as  a  ribbon  all  over.  She  did  look 
about  the  nicest  of  any  vessel  I  had  then  ever  looked 
upon.     I  am  thus  particular  in  describing  her  outward 


A   TRIP    TO    NEW    HAVEN  109 

appearance,  so  that  as  you  find  out  more  of  her  qual- 
ities you  may  be  able  to  judge  how  very  deceitful 
appearances  are  sometimes  found  to  be.  The  new  pur- 
chasers paid  fourteen  thousand  dollors  for  her.  and 
supposed  they  were  buying  a  new  vessel.  Found  the 
mainmast  had  to  be  taken  out  on  account  of  being  rot- 
ten, the  original  owners  paying  the  expenses.  We 
took  thirteen  cords  of  wood  for  ballast,  and  most  of 
the  casks  for  our  whaling  voyage.  They  were  of  very 
poor  staves,  thin  heads,  too  small,  hoops  so  thin  the 
rivet-heads  would  draw  out  while  being  driven. 

Started  for  home  in  one  week,  and  arrived  after 
three  days  passage.  She  was  fitted  at  Mayhew's  v/harf. 
A  few  days  before  we  were  ready  for  sea,  while  at 
work  on  the  quarter-deck,  I  overheard  a  conversation 
between  Captain  Daggett  and  Mr.  Peter  CoflQn,  who 
was  going  our  chief  mate.  "  Captain  D.,"  said  Mr. 
Coffin,  we  are  too  old  to  go  whaling,  we  ought  not  to 
go.''  Says  Capt.  D.,  "Oh  no;  I  feel  smart  and  active, 
am  only  about  sixty,  just  in  my  prime.''  "  But,"  said 
Mr.  C,  "  I  am  obliged  to  go  ;  if  1  had  your  property 
I  should  remain  on  shore."  Capt.  D.  said,  '.'Well, 
neither  you  nor  I  will  stand  any  watch  on  the  voyage  ; 
unless  sometime  when  we  may  be  running  in  for  the 
land,  or  in  some  other  special  emergency.  We  shall 
have  plenty  of  younger  man  and  boys  to  do  the  watch 
standing.  Mr.  C.  replied,  "  I  shall  always  stand  my 
watch."     He    did    and    stood    it   like    a    man,    keeping 


110      '  A     TEIP   TO  NEW  HAVEN. 

wide  awake  himself  aod  all  the  rest  of  us;  there  was 
no  sleeping  in  his  watch  on  deck,  "nary  time."  In 
farther  conversation  Mr.  C.  observed,  "We  have  too 
many  green  boat-steerers,  I  don't  like  them,  they  lack 
experience."  They  are  just  what  I  wanted,"  said  Capt. 
D.,  "I  wish  to  bp«ak  them  in  my  way;  then  they 
will  be  good  for  something."  Strange  idea,  thought  I, 
A  few  weeks  passed,  and  in  such  order  as  she  was, 
we  were  ready  to  sail  for  the  coast  of  Africa,  on  a 
fourteen  months  cruise.  Having  cleared  from  the  Cus- 
tom House  the  night  previous,  we  set  sail  on  5th  of 
July,  1816. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

WHALIN^G    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP   APOLLO. 

S  previously  stated,  the  Apollo  was  the  first  ship 
of   a    long    list    subsequently    sent    out    by   the 
people  of  Edgartown.     Feeling  quite  independent 
fi'om  the  effects  of  the  previous    day,  our    National  An- 
niversary,   it    was    decided    not    to    take  a    Pilot,    our 
mate   being   competent   to    act   as  such.     As   the  wind 
was    from   the  westward,  in    was    deemed    best   to    go 
through  the    ship  channel,  over   the  shoals,  making  our 
course  to  the  eastward    of  Georges  Banks.     Got   along 
finely,  the  wind  and  tide  both  favoring  us,  the  wind  in- 
creasing in  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day,  but  still  fair. 
At  eight  o'clock  pumped  ship.     Found   plenty  of  water 
in  the  lower  hold  ;  pumped  a  long  time  without  freeing 
her,  and  after  a  while  the  pumps  became    choked  with 
chips  and  gravel.     We  hoisted  them  out,  drew  the  boxes, 
and  with    long    poles    drove    out  the  snags.     Replaced 
them,  but    it  was    not    long    before    they    were    again 
choked,  when  they  were    again   taken    out    and    served 
as  before.     Slung  a  man  under  the    arms,  and   lowered 
him  into  the  pump-well,  with  a  basket  to  gather  up  the 

111 


112  WHALING    VOYAGE   OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

kindling  stuff.  He^  reported  any  quantity  of  it,  while 
bucket-full  after  bucket -ful  of  all  kinds  of  dirt  was  sent 
up.  Directly  he  sang  out  for  the  end  of  a  rope  to  be 
sent  down,  as  he  had  found  something  as  large  as  a 
man's  body.  He  bent  on  to  it,  and  up  we  hauled  a 
good-sized  piece  of  rotten  timber.  Sent  down  the  rope 
again  as  he  ordered,  and  away  came  up  another  of  the 
same  kind !  In  great  surprise  it  was  asked,  "  Where 
can  they  have  come  from?  Is  he  going  to  bend  on 
the  ships  bottom  ? "  We  thought  we  were  in  a  new 
ship,  as  it  had  been  so  represented,  and  now  timber  thirty 
years  old  was  making  its  mysterious  appearance.  But 
the  secret  was  soon  out  when  we  learned  that  she  had 
been  an  old  Horse  Jockey,  formerly  known  as  the 
*'  Henry,''  had  made  forty  voyages  to  the  West  Indies 
and  was  afterwards  fitted  up  for  the  purpose  of  selling ; 
and  those  who  bought  her  did  get  most  egregiously 
sold.  After  a  while,  having  got  the  well  all  cleared, 
we  in  pump,  and  to  pumping  again,  but  did  not  gain 
much  on  her.  Headed  her  for  Boston,  sharp  hauled  on 
the  wind.  Soon  began  to  lessen  the  water  in  the  hold, 
which  proved  the  leak  high  up,  somewheres  forward. 
K'ept-  off  again,  thinking  that  perhaps  the  next  day 
we  might  find  the  leak.  Let  her  drive,  going  along 
first  rate. 

Ten  days  out,  early  in  the  morning,  raised  a  large 
sperm-  whale  and  lowered  for  him,  but  being  all  green 
hands    in   the   boat,  the  whale  was    gallied.     He  would 


WHALING  VOYAGE   OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  113 

have  stowed  down  eighty  barrels,  but  escaped  us. 
About-  noon  another  large  fellow  was  raised,  and  now 
the  captain  was  going  to  show  the  "  greenies  "  how  to 
do  it.  He  soon  got  up  with  him.  The  whale  had 
some  white  spots  on  him,  and  as  he  took  a  notion  to 
whirl  round  that  he  might  have  a  fair  view  of  the 
Capt.  and  his  boat,  opening  his  mouth  at  the  same  time 
(probably  to  laugh),  the  old  gent  was  terribly  frightened 
and  sang  out,  "  Stern  all  1  stern  all,  boys !  'tis  a  rogue 
whale,  and  he  will  eat  the  boat  1  See  the  white  spots 
on  him ! ''  Having  seen  all  he  cared  to  of  us,  he  went 
down  and  we  saw  no  more  of  him,  while  we  returned 
to  the  ship  again.  Had  hardly  got  alongside  when  the 
mate  said,  "For  God's  sake  Capt.  Daggett,  why  didn't 
you  strike  that  whale  ?  You  were  near  enough."  He 
replied,  "  The  whale  didn't  act  as  I  should  have  liked, 
but  if  my  boat-steerer  had  been  a  man  of  experience 
I  should  have  tried  him,"  Mate  replied,  "  That  is  just 
what  I  told  you ;  we  didn't  want  any  of  your  d  —  n 
green  boat  steerers." 

Towards  night  the  third  whale  was  in  sight, 
right  ahead.  We  down  with  two  boats ;  I  bowed  the 
mate's ;  the  other  boat  came  up  to  the  whale  first. 
"Give  it  to  her"  was  the  word.  The  boat-stearer  let 
go  his  iron,  striking  a  place  of  slack  blubber,  which 
bent  the  iron  but  did  not  enter.  Darted  again,  and  his 
iron  entered  just  enough  to  cover  one  flue,  and  the  line 
coming  taut,  it  drew  out.     The  Mate's  boat  now   came 


114  WHALING  VOYAGE  OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

alongside,  and  he  sang  out  to  the  boatsteerer,  "dart!'' 
He  did  dart,  or  rather  pitchpoled  his  iron  about  half 
way  to  the  whale.  Told  him  to  give  him  the  other 
iron ;  he  did,  and  away  it  went  twenty  feet  into  the 
water  beyond.  By  this  time  the  greasy  fellow  thought 
it  about  time  to  make  himself  scarce,  thinking  per- 
haps by  and  by  somebody  might  accidently  hit  him. 
So  off  he  went,  four  irons  hove  at  him  and  not  a 
blood  fetched  !  The  boatsteerer,  Lem.  Kelley  by  name, 
was  as  stout  as  a  giant,  and  as  clever  and  lazy  a 
fellow  as  ever  lived.  When  we  got  on  board,  and  the 
boats  hoisted  up,  another  row  among  the  officers  and 
Kelly  followed.  Says  the  mate  to  Kelly,  "  Why  didn't 
you  fasten  to  that  whale  ? "  "  When  I  stood  up,  I 
was  so  scared  I  didn't  know  whether  I  was  darting 
an  iron  or  was  being  chawed  up  by  an  alligator." 
Said  he  was  an  old  sea-dog,  had  been  in  the  merchant 
service,  but  had  never  been  whaling  before,  and  never 
was  frightened  as  that  monster  frightened  him.  ''  I 
never  wish  to  see  any  more  whales,  and  what  is 
more,  I  want  my  discharge  at  the  very  first  port  we 
enter,  for  I  shall  be  of  no  use  here  I  am  perfectly 
satisfied." 

We  cruised  near  the  coast  of  Guinea  some  little 
time,  but  saw  no  whales  and  as  the  land  did  not  ap- 
pear more  than  eight  or  ten  miles  distant,  a  boat 
was  ordered  on  shore  for  fruit.  Throwing  into  her  a 
part   of  a    porpoise    caught  the    day   before,   some  old 


WHALING  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  115 

spikes,  hoops,  and  worn-out  knives,  a  few  old  cast-off 
duds,  started  for  the  shore.  The  wind  was  light  and 
the  ship  did  not  have  much  way.  We  rowed  and 
rowed,  until  the  ship  was  hull  down,  the  land  being 
over  twenty  instead  of  ten  miles  away  when  we  left 
her.  Getting  in  shore,  saw  a  little  village  of  huts 
or  wigwams,  toward  which  we  pulled.  It  was  rough- 
landing  on  account  of  the  surf.  An  old  man,  who 
proved  to  be  the  Chief,  came  out  and  made  signs  for 
us  to  land  more  to  the  eastward.  Finally  he  belched 
out  in  very  loud  tones,  which  was  interpreted  by  us 
to  mean  "come  on."  The  boat  striking  the  beach, 
a  simultaneous  rush  was  made  by  the  natives,  number- 
ing from  three  to  five  hundred,  who  came  from  over 
the  hill,  and  taking  the  boat  up  bodily,  men  and  all, 
conveyed  us  to  the  woods,  quite  a  distance  from  high- 
water  mark. 

These  people  were  as  naked  as  they  were  born 
into  the  world,  except  the  Chief  who  had  some  rags 
tied  around  his  body.  He  inquired  of  us  if  we  were 
a  war-ship  crew,  making  himself  intelligible  to  us  by 
pointing  to  the  ship,  and  then  imitating  as  best  he 
could  the  noise  of  a  cannon.  It  so  happened  that 
near  where  we  landed  was  the  bleached  scalp  of  an 
old  whale,  we  replied  to  his  question  by  calling  his 
attention  to  it,  and  then  taking  the  attitude  of  strik- 
ing him  with  an  iron,  he  appeared  satisfied,  fully 
comprehending    our    acts.     Trading    then    commenced. 


116  WHALING  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

There  was  an  abundance  of  fmit  of  different  kinds, 
and  as  the  natives  made  their  selections  from  the  valu- 
bles  displayed,  we  had  only  to  indicate  by  marks 
in  the  sand  how  much  we  wanted  of  the  different 
fruit,  which  was  immediately  placed  in  the  boat.  We 
were  probably  the  first  v/hite  persons  ever  visited  them. 
They  inspected  us  closely,  shoving  up  our  sleeves, 
and  pantaloon  legs  to  see  if  we  were  white,  thinking 
our  faces  were  painted.  They  would  not  suffer  any 
of  us  to  go   to   the   village. 

It  was  now  calm,  the  ship  had  drifted  entirely  out 
of  sight,  and  we  were  beginning  to  feel  rather  un- 
comfortable, among  a  horde  of  savages  and  perfectly 
helpless  just  at  night  our  eyes  were  gladdened  by  a 
view  of  the  ship,  approaching  with  a  light  breeze. 
We  made  signs  that  we  wished  to  leave,  but  the  old 
Chief  would  not  let  us.  We  kept  an  eye  on  our  boat 
hatchet  and  knives,  determined,  if  they  did  attack 
us,  to  sell  our  lives  at  a  good  price,  meanwhile 
could  hardly  make  out  their  intentions  toward  us. 
These  people  were  finely  formed,  straight  as  an 
arrow,  the  men  very  tall  and  massive  in  their  build, 
black  as  jet,  the  skin  shining  like  a  piece  of  ebony. 
All  ages  were  represented,  from  the  papoose  a  few 
days  old  to  men  and  women  who  might  have  been 
a  hundred  and  forty,  with  heads  as  white  as  the 
driven    snow. 

The    children    were    carried    in    a     sort   of    basket, 


WHALING  "C^OYAGE   OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  11*Z 

formed  by  the  bark  of  a  tree  doubled  up  and  attached 
'\o  the  shoulders,  from  which  position,  from  the 
peculiar  formation  of  the  female,  the  little  ones  could 
easily  receive  from  their  mother^  their  nourishment. 
The  ship  ran  in  as  near  as  it  was  safe,  hauled 
aback,  ran  the  colors  up  and  down,  while  we  were 
endeavoring  to  get  away.  At  last  we  made  signs  to 
the  Chief,  if  he  would  let  us  go  on  board,  when  the 
sun  arose  again  would  return  with  lots  of  good  things. 
This  seemed  to  suit  his  ideas  very  well,  and  telling 
us  to  get  in  on  top  of  the  fruit,  such  a  gathering 
to  get  a  hand  on  our  boat  was  never  seen  before. 
Up  she  was  taken,  and  toward  the  shore  was  being 
quickly  borne,  when  a  scream,  from  one  of  the  girls 
caused  each  one  to  let  the  boat  drop.  It  appeared 
that  Lem,  the  fellow  who  didn't  like  whales,  at- 
tempted to  kidnap  the  girl,  or  was  trying  to  frighten 
her;  but  it  came  near  turning  our  fat  all  into  the 
fire.  They  appeared  greatly  exasperated,  and  for  a 
while  we  didn't  know  how  'twould  turn  out.  With 
considerable  coaxing,  however,  the  boat  was  again 
raised  and  launched,  and  taking  our  oars  we  made  the 
best  time  possible  toward  the  ship,  glad  enough  to 
be  out  of  their  reach.  We  did  not  go  ashore  when 
the  sun  arose  next  morning.  The  Captain  was  badly 
frightened  and  never  expected  to  see  us  again ;  seemed 
real  glad  when  we  were  safe  on  board,  but  no  more 
than  were  we  to  be  there  ourselves.  Soon  left  the 
coast,   not  having  seen   a   spout. 


118  -VTHALIXG  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHJP  APOLLO. 

Although  previous  to  leaving  home  the  mate  had 
been  told  b}^  Capt.  J),  that  he  would  not  be  required 
to  stand  watch,  yet  so  far  he  had,  just  as  regular  as 
clock  work.  But  to  show  how  much  was  meant  by  the 
captain's  pretentions,  a  little  incident  will  suffice.  I 
was  in  the  mate's  watch.  He  had  just  asked  how 
much  the  hour-glass  lacked  of  being  out.  (In  those 
days  no  clocks  were  used.)  1  told  him  ten  minutes, 
said  he,  ''I  believe  a  few- minutes  rest  before  going  be- 
low will  not  hurt  me,^'  and  taking  a  stool  sat  down  on 
it  near  the  cabin  sky-light,  which  was  open.  The 
captain,  observing  it,  came  out  of  the  cabin  in  a  perfect 
tempest,  and  charged  him  with  being  asleep  in  his 
watch  on  deck.  Mr.  C.  denied  that  he  had  slept  a 
wink,  saying  that  it  was  only  five  minutes  by  the  glass 
since  it  was  consulted  for  him.  "  If  I  have  been  asleep 
it  was  a  d — n  short  one.  He  got  up  and  gave  the 
chair  a  hurl  against  the  bulwarks  that  completely  de 
molished  it,  whereupon  the  captain  threatened  to  land 
him  the  first  port  he  made. 

After  leaving  the  coast,  cruised  along  toward  Rio 
Janeiro.  One  day  about  noon,  had  been  taking  the  sun. 
I  was  alone  in  the  steerage,  a  small  door  between  that 
and  the  cabin  being  open,  captain  and  mate  came  down. 
Captain  asked  Mr.  Coffin  what  his  Latitude  was ;  he 
tiild  him,  when  the  captain  said,  "  You  are  wrong ; 
jNlr.  Godfrey's  is  so-and-so,  and  yours  must  be  incor- 
rect, some    mistake    somewhere,"    "  I    tell    you,"    said 


WHALIXG  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  119 

CoflBn,  ''I  am  right.  D— n  Godfrey,  I  don't  go  by  Lis 
reckonings  ;  I  go  by  my  own."  The  next  thing  I 
heard  was  the  chattering  of  the  crockery,  and  somebody 
fall  on  the  floor.  The  table  for  dinner  was  spread  out' 
and  the  chests  occupied  most  of  the  floor  room.  I 
thought  I  would  go  and  see  what  the  matter  was. 
There  they  were,  having  a  nasty  hook,  captain  and 
mate  clenched,  the  mate  crammed  down  behind  the 
chests,  Mr.  Coffin  had  one  hand  on  tl^e  captain's  breast, 
and  with  the  other  had  him  by  the  ear,  both  looking 
rtither  savage.  Mr.  C.  gave  a  pull  on  the  ear,  which 
split  it  up  about  an  inch  the  blood  flowed  freely  from  it, 
saying,  ''I'll  never  give  up  to  no  'Old  Doggett'  so 
long  as  there's  a  drop  of  old  Betty  Martin  runs  through 
my  veins.  Captain  Daggett,  seeing  me  standing  by 
the  door,  cried  out,  "  Take  this  d — n  rascal  away  from 
me  ; ''  but  as  no  names  were  called,  I  left  suddenly, 
not  caring  to  get  mixed  up  in  the  affair.  About  this 
time  the  captain's  son  came  down  with  the  dinne]-, 
and  seeing  the  encounter,  set  it  on  the  table  and  called 
the  second  mate  and  boatsterers  to  the  assistance  of 
his  father,  and  soon  they  were  separated.  At  about 
two  o'clock  P.  M.,  another  row  was  kicked  up  between 
the  second  mate  and  a  boatsfeerer  on  the  port  bow, 
which  the  captain  saw  and  put  a  stop  to.  I  began  to 
think  that  fighting  was  better  attended  to  than  whaling 
and  wished  that  I  had  gone  coasting  rather  than  on 
this  voyage. 


120  WHALING    VOYGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO,     . 

Not  long  after,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day,  a  large 
ship  was  seen  bearing  down  to  us,  seeming  to  want  to 
speak  us.  We  hove  aback  our  main-topsail  and  he 
l^assed  our  stern,  running  under  our  lea,  and  parted  his 
wheel-rope.  She  luffed  right  up  alongside,  stove  two 
of  her  boats,  but  the  yards  did  not  get  foul.  She 
proved  to  be  an  English  transport  loaded  with  emi- 
grants, who  crowded  her  sides  and  rigging  to  get  a 
sight  of  us.  She  fell  of  to  leeward,  striking  our  fashion 
piece  into  his  quarter  galley,  which  was  stowed  with 
crockery ;  an  opening  was  made,  out  of  which  at 
least  two  cart  loads  were  jumped  into  the  ocean.  As 
she  was  bound  into  Rio  we  agreed  to  keep  company, 
both  arriving  three  days  after.  Our  ship  still  leaked 
badly  in  heavy  weather.  The  captain  told  Mr.  Coffin 
to  get  his  duds  ready  to  leave,  as  he  was  going  to 
discharge  him  Mr.  C.  told  him  he  did  not  like  to  leave 
there,  as  all  were  strangers  to  him  and  he  had  no 
money.  He  was  told  that  it  made  no  odds  ;  if  he  did 
not  go  of  his  own  accord  he  would  have  a  file  of  sol- 
diers to  help  him  along.  Mr.  C.  replied,  "  Rather  than 
be  dragged  by  soldiers,  I  will  go.'^  lie  got  ready 
and  put  his  things  in  the  boat.  Before  he  left  he  told 
us  we  would  have  to  go  either  to  Brazil  Banks,  Right- 
whaling,  or  Cape  Horn  sperm  whaling,  but  by  all 
means  to  be  in  favor  of  going  to  the  Cape.  The  cap- 
tain then  ordered  him  to  leave,  adding  that  if  any 
other  man  or    boy  wished  to    go  he  was    at  liberty    to 


TVHALIXG   VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP   APOLLO.  121 

do  SO.  The  boat  left  with  Mr.  Coffin.  One  boatsteerer 
said,  as  there  was  to  be  so  much  fighting-  on  board  he 
thought  best  to  leave,  for  if  he  remained  ho  should  be 
obliged  to  do  his  part.  The  captain  replied.  If  you 
are  a  fighting  character  you  had  better,  for  1  prefer 
to  do  all  the  fighting  done  here.  Accordingly  he  left. 
The  next  day  I  applied  for  my  discharge,  but  alter 
some  hard  words  passing  between  us,  finally  gave  it 
up,  preferring  to  suifer  some  myself,  rather  than  as  he 
said,  be  the  means  of  breaking  up  the  voyage ;  for  if  I 
left,  the  rest  of  the  ships  crew  were  determined  to  fol- 
low me.  Afterwards,  when  on  shore,  made  another 
attempt  to  hold  him  to  his  agreement  in  regard  to  dis- 
charging any  who  wished  to  go,  but  he  protested  so, 
that  I  should  ruin  him,  that  he  would  be  compelled  to 
sell  the  ship,  &c.,  the  tears  filling  his  eyes  on  account 
of  it,  that  my  naturally  sensitive  nature  was  touched 
to  such  a  degree  that  the  thought  of  leaving  was 
abandoned,  with  his  promising  to  act  more  as  a  man 
should  toward  his  fellow  man.  I  have  no  doubt,  that 
had  1  left  the  ship,  when  I  got  home  every  old  woman 
would  have  been  down  on  me. 

In  the  afternoon  all  hands  were  taken  to  the  Custom 
House,  Ihe  captain  trying  to  prove  Mr.  Coffin  a  very 
troublesome  man,  and  wishing  us  to  give  in  evi- 
dence to  that  effect.  I  imagined  his  object,  and  told 
the  boys,  if  they  had  to  make  any  statements,  to  say 
as  few  words  as  possible  and  be  wholly  on  their  guard. 


122  WHALLN'G  VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP   APOLLO 

Underneath  the  Custom  House  was  a  grog-shop,  into 
which  we  were  all  invited  by  the  captain,  who  called 
for  all  kinds  of  liquors  and  told  all  hands  to  help 
themselves,  as  it  was  his  treat.  "  Come  on,  my  boys ; 
now-  don't  be  shy  because  the  Old  Man  is  free  with 
his  rum.  Here  Ripley,  step  up  don't  refuse."  I  took 
a  very  light  glass,  but  nut  so  with  quite  a  number; 
before  their  craving  was  satisfied  they  were  ready  for 
most  anything.  A  few  were  allowed  to  go  into  the 
office  at  a  time,  while  the  others  were  making  merry 
at  the  Old  Man's  expense.  When  not  observed,  I 
slipped  out  and  dodged  •  around  the  corner,  and  forgot 
to  report  myself  until  the  business  was  all  finished, 
keeping  shady  till  there  was  a  mustering  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  boat,  when  I  went  down  to  return  with  the 
rest  to  our  ship.  The  captain  asked  me  where  I  had 
been?  I  a^iswered  him  evasively  by  telling  a  white  lie, 
that  I  stepped  out  and  got  lost,  and  could  not  find 
my  way  back  until  it  was  to  late.  Capt.  D.,  said 
he  was  very  sorry,  as  my  boat  had  already  left  the 
shore ;  told  me  to  get  into  his,  and  go  on  board 
with  him.  Said  I,  ''I  don't  belong  to  your  boat, 
nor  do  I  ever  wish  to  put  foot  on  the  ship  again." 
After  a  while  we  shoved  off".  For  recruits, 'twenty- 
five  bushels  of  corn  was  purchased,  also  some  fresh 
beef.  The  corn  was  inhabited ;  every  kernel  was  a 
tenement,  and  every  tenement  had  a  good  sized  white 
worm    in   it.     The   beef    was   in    an    avv^ful    condition ; 


WHALIXG  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  12.1 

being  killed  the  night  before,  it  was  brought  to 
market  on  the  greasy  backs  of  naked  women,  while 
the  perspiration  of  their  over  lieated  bodies  and  the 
blood  of  half-dressed  bullocks  were  beautifully  mingled 
together.  It  was  enough  to  make  a  sensible  dog 
sick  to   his   stomach. 

In  a  few  days  went  to  sea,  a  constant  lookout  be- 
ing kept  at  our  mast-heads  for  whales,  but  did  not 
raise  any.  The  next  land-fall  made  was  the  island 
of  Ascension,  near  St  Helena.  We  went  in,  and 
sent  a  boat  ashore  for  Green  Turtle,  but  as  the  seas- 
on was  rather  late,  were  disappointed  by  not  getting 
any,  they  having  laid  their  eggs  and  returned  to 
their  ocean  home.  But  if  the  turtle  had  not  been 
any  better  than  we  got  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
voyage,  it  would  have  been  no  great  loss.  I  neglect- 
ed to  state  in  the  proper  place,  that  we  made  for  our 
first  port  the  island  alluded  to.  We  ran  in  there, 
stopped  only  a  few  hours,  landed  and  captured  five 
very  large  turtle,  got  them  off  to  the  ship  all  right, 
cooked  one  and  found  him  as  tough  as  a  shark  and 
as  strong  as  Goliah.  The  others  were  left  to  roam 
about  under  foot  on  deck.  To  prevent  them  from 
getting  overboard,  iron  rails  were  lashed  a  long  where 
the  ship  was  not  ceiled  up,  (in  those  days  it  was  not 
the  practice  to  ceil  the  bulwarks  the  whole  length  of 
the  vessel).  As  I  was  saying,  irons  were  used  as  rails 
to  prevent  the    escape  of   our  animals ;   but    one    dark 


124  WHALING    VOYAGL;    of   the   ship   APOLLO. 

niglit  somebody  let  the  lower  rail  down,  and  in  the 
morning  they  were  among  the  missing.  We  did  not 
cry  over  it,  but  our  captain  was  considerably  grieved, 
thinking  no  doubt,  if  they  were  too  tough  for  cabin 
use  they  might  do  for  sailors.  But  to  return  to  xVscen- 
sion.  A  war  brig,  called  the  Leverett,  belonging  tj 
the  English  navy,  was  anchored  there,  and  thirty  men 
belonging  to  her  had  taken  possession  of  the  island. 

The  night  before  we  got  in  it  was  blowing  hard,  aiid 
a  rough  sea  running ;  our  lower  bob-stay,  an  eight 
inch  rope,  was  pitched  in  two  pieces.  When  we  came 
to  an  anchor,  a  number  of  spars  were  secured  under 
our  bow  for  staying,  from  which  necessary  repairs  could 
be  made  upon  the  stay,  and  search  made  for  the  leak. 
After  unserving  the  end  of  the  bob-stay  leading  into 
the  stern,  in  examining  the  hole  from  where  it  came 
out,  an  augur  hole  was  discovered  leading  into  it, 
which  proved  the  place  that  had  caused  us  so  much 
touble  and  hard  labor, —  for  pumping  is  no  holiday 
amusement.  This  hole  had  been  overlooked  when  the 
ship  was  undergoing  repairs  previous  to  her  being  sold 
for  a  whaler,  and  the  secret  was  out  in  regard  to  her 
only  leaking  when  before  the  wind  ;  it  then  being  slack, 
the  water  could  find  its  way  in,  but  when  a  strain 
was  on  the  opening  was  closed  up  by  the  stay.  With 
a  good  lut  of  oakum  we  made  it  all  right,  and  it 
didn't  trouble  us  an}^  more. 

Fitted  the  stay  and  lethered  it,  shaved  the  inner  end 


WHALING   VGYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  125 

and  rove  it,  and  set  it  up  taut  with  a  watch  tackle  ; 
thcu  had  a  chance  to  go  on  shore.  We  found  the 
ishmd  very  rocky,  and  every  foot  of  laud  seemed  in- 
fested with  rats,  who  did  not  appear  to  be  at  all 
alarmed  at  our  presence  :  guess  they  were  not  aware 
what  uncivil  things  men  could  be.  They  acted  as  if 
they  enjoyed  themselves  hugely,  sometimes  hiding  their 
eyes  in  the  crack  of  the  rocks,  or  under  a  bunch  of 
Parblcy.  Thinks  I.  What  a  delightful  country  for 
John  Chinaman  I 

We  came  very  near  getting  a  large  lot  of  goats 
should  have  succeeded,  but  they  were  more  accustomed 
to  the  method  of  travelling  about  there,  and  rather  out- 
witted us  on  several  occasions.  Once  we  had,  as  we 
supposed,  a  number  cornered,  all  ready  to  put  our 
hand  on  them,  but  as  iu  the  case  of  the  Irishman's 
flea,  we  put  our  hands  where  they  were,  and  they 
weren't  there  I  Up  they  went,  out  of  reach,  where, 
on  a  rock  not  much  larger  than  a  man's  hand,  they 
looked  and  grinned  at  us  in  defiance. 

With  a  fair  wind  soon  started  for  Cape  Horn.  Cruised 
along  without  seeing  any  whales,  winds  varable,  no 
regular  gales,  but  quite  strong  blows,  and  little  of  all 
kinds.  As  we  neared  the  Cape  the  weather  grew 
worse.  Sent  down  top  gallant  yards  and  masts  fore 
and  aft.  Rigged  in  jibboom,  took  in  the  spreet  sail 
yard,  unrigged  the  spanker  altogether,  and  bent  a  small 
storm  mizzen.     Getting  pretty   well  up  to  Staten  Island, 


126  WHALING  VOYAGE   OF  THE    SHIP  APOLLO. 

the  weather  moderated.  One  day,  about  two  o'clock, 
a  large  'sperm  whale  was  seen  about  a  third  of  a 
mile  distant,  off  the  starboard  beam.  The  captain,  as 
usual,  was  taking  his  sieda  in  his  bunk  below.  The 
mate  called  and  informed  him  that  a  whale  was  quite 
handy  to  us,  and  asked  if  he  might  get  out  a  couple 
of  boats.  ''  Yes,"  he  replied.  We  began  to  unlash 
when  he  came  upon  deck,  ordered  us  to  hold  on  as 
it  was  no  use.  "  We're  in  too  high  latitudes  to  kill 
whales ;  if  we  should  strike  a  whale  before  morning, 
we  should  be  forced  to  give  him  up.'"  So  we  gave 
up  the  chance,  the  whale  remaining  in  sight  till  dark ; 
fine  weather  all  night  and  a  beautifuU  day  followed 
it.  We  kept  dragging  along,  and  at  last  weathered 
Cape  Horn.  Ran  down  on  wHaling  ground  on  the 
coast  of  Peru,  having  enjoyed  quite  a  quiet  time,  only 
an  occasional  dispute  arising  which  was  settled  with- 
out resorting  to  kicks  and  cufis.  For  some  time  saw 
no  whales,  and  were  getting  out  of  patience ;  but  as 
I  was  on  the  lookout  aloft  one  day  I  caught  sight 
of  a  fellow  right  ahead  and  sang  out,  "  There  she 
blows  !  "  "  Where  away  "  was  asked.  I  replied,  "  There 
goes  flukes,  right  ahead  sir."  "  Clear  away  the  boats," 
the  Captain  ordered.  Two  boats  lowered,  which  were 
commanded  by  the  Captain  and  Mate.  The  captain's 
boat  got  fast,  and  instead  of  killing  the  whale  him- 
self, as  he  should,  he  let  the  boatsteerer  throw  the 
lance   which  was  boned,  the  whale   rolled,  the   line  came 


WHALLN-G  VOYAGE  OF  THE    SHIP  APOLLO.  12T 

taut,  and  the  boat  was  capsized.  The  mate  im- 
mediately fastened,  and  soon  the  whale  was  spouting 
thick  blood.  We  felt  better  as  we  beheld  Jiis  corps. 
Towed  him  to  the  ship  and  went  to  work  cutting  him 
in.  It  was  now  the  first  of  March,  1818;  nine  months 
from  home,  and  we  hadn't  .taken  oil  enough  to  burn 
in  the  binnacle  lamp.  After  this  whales  were  quite 
plent}'',  but  only  two  at  a  time  were  allowed  to  be 
brought  to  the  ship  and  only  one  if  it  was  near  night. 
All  hands  being  green,  it  made  very  bad  work  cut- 
ting in.  Large  wooden  wedges  were  used  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  the  blubber  lifted,  resembling  those 
used  in  splitting  large  logs  of  wood.  It  tock  us  the 
greater  part  of  a  day  to  get  a  fifty  barrel  fellow  in. 
Here  we  took  about  three  hundred  barrels  in  three 
months,  lived  hard,  short  rations  and  of  the  meanest 
kind.  A  common  dish  was  corn  and  worms  pounded 
up  together,  made  into  soup,  with  a  very  small  piece 
of  salt  meat  cooked  in  it.  Had  some  fish  which  v^e 
cooked  when  the  opportunity  was  afTorded,  refusing 
none  except  -  sharks ;  but  sometimes  we  were  shark- 
ish  enough  to  try  them.  We  took  out  on  the  voyage 
forty-three  barrels  of  meat,  while  in  later  days  three 
hundred  is  not  considered  extravagant.  Many  a  time 
when  it  was  served  up,  I  have  taken  my  allowance 
at  a  single  bite  ;  yet  I  never  had  the  reputation  of 
having  a  very  large  swallow,  and  several  times  in  my 
life  have    come  quite   near    choking    to    death  because 


128    ■  WHALIXG  VOYAGE  OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

my  swallow  was  so  small.  The  bread  was  very  good, 
but  less  than  half  a  pound  was  to  go  with  our  morsel 
of  meat  for  the  twenty-four  hours.  The  only  fault  with 
the  bread  was,  not  enough  of  it.  We  soon  got  sick 
fo  samp,  it  was  sour  and  musty  and  often  the  top  of 
the  pot  in  which  it  was  boiled  would  be  covered  with 
the  worms.  One  day  it  came  down  presenting  its 
usual  appearance,  not  fit  for  a  decent  hog  to  eat,  and 
1  was  detailed  to  take  the  kid  in  which  it  was  to  tlie 
captain.  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  it  was  fit  to  feed 
men  on?  I  had  told  the  men,  prior  to  my  going  aft 
that  it  would  kick  up  a  row  but  if  every  man  would 
follow  me  I  would  go.  Instead  of  that,  not  a  man 
stood  by  me  ;  bat  I  kept  on  with  it.  He  replied  to 
my  question  by  saying  it  was  good  enough  Said  I, 
"  We  cannot  agree  with  you.''  He  called  me  a  muti- 
nous rascal,  and  asked  why  I  was  the  only  one  to  find 
fault.  I  told  him  they  had  all  agreed  to  follow  me  and 
defend  their  rights,  but  had  deceived  me.  The  bread 
was  usually  served  out  fourteen  cakes  per  week,  but 
not  unfrequently  we  were  cheated  out  of  a  part  of  our 
allowance  by  not  getting  it  until  the  eight  day  ;  this 
was  the  case  on  the  present  occasion,  our  bread  being 
due  the  day  previous,  and  I  told  him  so.  He  denied 
the  assertion  and  ordered  me  forward,  promising  me 
(not  the  bread  but)  to  land  me  on  the  first  desolate 
island  they  arrived  at.  Told  him  that  did  not  frighten 
me.     "  Then,"    said  he,  I  will    put    you  on  board  the 


WHALING    VOYAGE  OF  THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  129 

first  man  o'-war  we  speak."  baid  I,  "  That  will  bo 
better  than  remaining  here  to  starve,  lor  I  shall  get 
something  to  eat.  lie  got  pretty  well  out  of  humor 
and  scolded  dreadfully  I  told  him  all  that  we  wanted 
was  our  rghts''  ''What  do  you  want."  "Sir,  if  we 
are  to  have  fourteen  cakes  of  bread  per  week,  we  want 
it,  and  want  it  when  it  is  due."  Said  he,  "You  are. 
not  on  allowance."  I  replied  that  he  was  correct 
"You  not  do  give  half  an  allowance.  I  wish  to  know, 
sir,  if  we  are  to  have  such  a  quantity  dealt  out  at  a 
stated  time,  and  the  time  is  allowed  to  overrun 
twenty-four  hours,  if  there  is  not  an  occasion  for  com- 
plaint?" All  this  time  not  a  man  came  aft  to  my  as- 
sistance, I  told  him  finally  that  I  was  hungry  and 
,wanted  my  bread  and  must  have  it.  The  bread  was 
usually  headed  up  on  the  quarter  deck,  and  at  this 
time  a  number  of  casks  stood  there.  ^  He  spoke  to  the 
mate  who  had  taken  Mr.  Coffin's  place,  asking  if  that 
was  the  day  for  serving  out  the  bread.  Not  wishing 
to  disagree  with  the  captain,  he  replied  "  I  believe  it 
is."  At  last,  finding  that  I  was  not  to  be  scared  or 
beaten  out  of  it,  he  ordered  the  cooper  to  get  his  tools 
and  open  his  cask  "  for  this  "  gentleman,"  as  he  sar- 
castically called  me.  I  often  laugh  when  thiiik- 
ing  about  it ;  but  it  was  provoking.  "  Now,"  said  he, 
"you  can  get  your  bread  bag  and  call  the  others  for 
theirs."  I  replied  that  as  for  getting  mine,  I  was  ready 
to,  but  the  others  might  stay  and  starve  if  they  choose 


130  WHALING  VOYAGE    OF    THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

to  ;  I  should  not  call  them.  A  boatsteerer  usually  did 
the  counting'.  The  captain  asked  if  I  had  not  better 
watch  him  for  fear  of  being  cheated.  I  replied  that 
there  would,  be  no  harm  in  it,  and  did  so.  He  com- 
pleted the  task  for  all  the  crew,  and  a  large  sack  was 
j)assed  up  for  the  cabin  supply.  Previous  to  this  time 
the  bread  for  the  cabin  always  held  out  much  longer 
than  ours  forward,  and  we  judged  the  reason  why  was 
that  they  drew  a  much  larger  quantity,  which  without 
doubt  was  the  case.  "  Now,"  said  the  captain,  "  hadn't 
you  better  have  an  eye  out  to  see  that  he  doesn't  put 
in  more  for  the  cabin  than  belongs  there?"  .  "Yes 
sir,"  I  responded,  "there  is  need  enough  of  doing  just 
that  very  thing  ;  for  it  is  not  doubted  that  it  has  been 
done  more  than  once."  I  did  watch,  and  that  time  it» 
went  in  all  correct ;  when  I  said.  "  For  one,  I  agreo 
that  no  bread  will  be  required  for  the  steerage,  or 
asked  for,  till  the  cabin  allowance  is  gone.  And  sure 
enough,  theirs  was  all  gone  two  days  before  we  were 
out.  I  was  in  the  mate's  boat  and  watch. 
We  alwa^^s  agreed  quite  well,  and  a  short  time  after 
the  circumstances  just  alluded  to  occurred,  in  our  watch 
on  deck,  the  mate  told  me  that  not  a  great  while  be 
fore,  the  captain  told  him  that  I  was  just  right  about 
the  bread  ;  that  he  know  it  all  the  time  ;  meant  to  give 
it  to  me,  but  was  only  trying  to  see  if  he  couldn't 
make  me  back  down,  and  that  the  crew  were  as  mean 
as  the  d — 1  to    back    out    and  leave    me  in  the  scrape 


WHALIXG    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SPIIP    APOLLO."  131 

alone.  "  But  he  hung  well/'  he  added.  That  acknowl- 
edgment made  him  look  to  me  worse  tlian  ever.  AVhat 
good  it  did  him  to  tease  me,  even  against  liis  own 
convictions  of  right  and  justice,  was  a  puzzle  to  me. 

But  to  proceed  with  the  cruise.  The  captain,  thinking 
a  supply  of  wood  and  water  necessary,  iieaded  her  i\)V 
Tombez  Mr.  Godfrey,  who  was  Chief  Navigator  and 
ship  keeper,  was  sick  below.  After  several  days  made 
the  land,  and,  not  being  familar  with  the  coast,  ranby 
the  port  thirty-three  miles  to  ieaward.  Came  to  anchor 
off  the  mouth  of  a  river,  and  went  ashore,  but  soon 
found  by  its  being  salt  that  it  was  not  the  one  we  were 
in  quest  of.  Found  several  others,  but  still  none  that 
answered  our  purpose.  Spent  the  day  roaming  around, 
and  at  night  went  on  shipboard.  Next  day  was  also 
used  up  in  fruitless  attempts  to  find  fresh  water ;  but 
there  was  no  lack  of  mosquitoes  and  sand-flies, — they 
almost  devoured  us.  Disheartened  and  hungry,  joined 
the  ship  again  late  at  night  At  noon  of  the  past 
day,  Mr.  Godfrey  had  been  on  deck  and  taken  an  obser- 
vation, and  informed  us  that  thirty-five  miles  to  the 
southward  lay  the  river  we  wished  to  find. .  We  took  a 
boat  and  started  for  it.  On  reaching  it,  in  order  to 
enter,  had  to  cross  a  very  rugged  sand-bar.  The 
boat  ■  broached  to  and  partly  filled  with  water,  the 
steering  oar  broke  off  the  sternpost,  but  steering  with 
the  other  oars  we  finally  got  over  and  entered  the 
river  all  right  ;^  still    doubtful  whether    it  was  Tombez 


132  WHALING   VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP  APOLLO. 

or  not,  until  tasting  the  water  was  convinced  Had 
we  been  acquainted  with  the  kind  of  animals  it  furnished 
we  mig-ht  have  known  at  once,  as  the  alligators 
were  as  thick  as  June^bugs.  The  next  morning  with  a 
pilot  returned  to  the  ship.  Got  her  under  way,  and  at 
night  of  the  following  day  let  our  anchor  go  off  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  Our  boats  were  sent  for  wood  and 
water.  There  was  any  quantity  of  wood  of  various 
kinds,  the  Mangrove  most  common.  Our  casks  were 
filled,  rolled  into  the  river,  lashed  together  and  towed 
by  the  boats. 

Some  of  our  oil  was  sold  here  for  sweet  potatoes 
and  sugar.  The  sugar  was  pressed  in  large  cakes 
and  had  the  appearance  of  maple  sugar,  it  being  quite 
dark  colored.  It  was  packed  in  flags  braided  together. 
The  pilot  who  brought  us  up  the  coast  was  owner  of 
a  small  brigantine,  and  did  some  trading  along  the 
coast.  For  that  purpose  we  sold  him  two  sixty  gallon 
casks  of  black  fish  oil,  though  he  supposed  it  was 
sperm,  as  it  had  been  represented  to  him  as  such. 
Also  sold  him  fifty  fathoms  of  second  hand  tow  line 
for  a  cable  for  his  craft ;  by  doubling  it  was  all  sufficent, 
as  his  vessel  was  only  about  ten  tons.  lie  immediately 
started  for  Guayoquil  for  a  market.  He  did  not  go 
up  to  the  wharf,  but  anchored  outside.  Humpback 
whales  were  very  plenty  about  there  ;  in  the  night  it 
was  discovered  that  his  vessel  was  on  the  move,  which 
proved  to    be  one  of  those    saucy  fellows  who  had  got 


WHALING  VOYAGE  OF    THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  133 

afoal  of  the  cable  and  was  making  off  with  the  vessel, 
but  the  line  crossways  of  the  craft  brought  her  on  her 
beam  ends,  when  the  line  parted,  he  taking  the  greater 
portion  of  it  for  his  part.  But  this  was  not  to  be  the 
end  of  our  pilots  misfortunes.  He  afterwards  went  up 
to  dispose  of  his  oil,  and  was  landing  or  getting  it 
hoisted  to  land,  when,  high  enough  to  swing  off,  the 
tackle  parted,  letting  the  cask  fall  on  the  one  beneath 
it,  staving  both  and  saving  but  little  which  was  scooped 
up  with  dirt  and  water.  When  he  returned  from  the 
unprofitable  cruise,  his  lamentable  story  was  told,  and 
our  sympathies  were  expressed  in  the  only  way  that 
was  in  our  power  :  such  as  we  had  gave, we  unto  him, 
while  the  captain  replaced  the  tow-line  with  a  new 
one. 

After  procuring  all  the  wood  and  water  required 
we  shipped  a  man  by  the  name  of  Young,  who  said 
he  was  a  carpenter  and  had  been  cast  away  ;  was  just 
able  to  work  his  way  down  from  Panama,  and  was 
anxious  to  get  away  from  Tombez.  We  left  for  the 
off  shore  ground,  and  took  a  few  whales. 
•  One  afternoon  raised  a  large  English  Whaler  running 
down  for  us.  The  man  recently  shipped  was  standing 
at  the  mast-head,  looking  for  whales.  As  the  ship 
neared  us  he  came  down,  complained  of  an  attack  of 
fever  and  ague,  and  must  go  below.  The  ship  hove 
her  yards  aback,  and  our  captain  was  invited  on  bo  ard 
One  boat  s  crew  boarded  her.     It  was  near  night.     The 


134  ^vhali:n'G  voyage  of  the  skip  apolo. 

English  carpenter  we  had  shipped  was  only  pretending 
sickness,  and  he  ■  began  to  own  up  that  he,  with  five 
others,  had  run  away  from  that  ship  with  everything 
they  could  take  with  them.  Said  he,  "  They  have  seen 
me  with  their  spy-glass,  and  no  doubt  recognized  me, 
while  aloft."  He  was  in  a  peck  of  trouble  for  fear  of 
being  returned  to  the  ship  he  had  deserted,  thinking 
he  would  be  carried  to  England  and  hung.  The  En 
glish  Captain  asked  if  we  had  been  in  port  of  late, 
and  was  told  that  we  had  just  left  Tombez.  "Did 
you  ship  any  man,,'  he  continued!  !' Yes,"  was  re- 
plied, y  one  who  called  himself  an  Englishman." 
"What  kind  of  a  looking  man  was  he?"  Oar  captain 
thoughtlessly  gave  a  good  description  of  him  "  He 
is  my  man,"  replied  the  Englisman  ;  our  officers  saw 
him  aluft  and  recognized  him,!  shall  come  after  him 
to-morrow."  "  Well,  sir,"  said  Capt.  Daggett,  "if  he 
belongs  to  you  I  suppose  you  will  have  to  get  him; 
I  cannot  prevent  you."  Late  at  night  the  boat  came 
back.  Capt.  D.  called  the  man  up  and  questioned 
him  ;  asked  him  why  he  lied  to  him  ?  To  which  he 
replied,  "You  are  a  gentleman,  and  if  I  had  owned 
up  to  being  a  runaway  sailor  you  would  not  have 
shipped  me.  "  Well,"  said  he  in  reply,  "  he  is  com- 
ing after  you  to-morrow."  We  pitied  the  poor  fellow, 
knew  it  would  go  hard  with  him,  and  it  was  determ- 
ined to  avoid  his  going  back  if  it  was  possible  to 
prevent  it. 


WHALING  A^OTAGE     OF     THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  135 

The  boatsteerers  on  our  ship  were  gentlemen  boat- 
steerers,  not  having  any  watch  to  stand  and  doing 
generally,  about  as  they  saw  fit.  The  crew  were  divid 
ed  into  three  watches,  usually  four  men  to  each.  I 
told  the  boys  in  our  watch,  if  it  were  possible  we 
must  run  away  from  the  English  ship.  At  eight  o'clock 
took  m}^  trick  at  the  wheel,  and  soon  after  a  little 
squall  of  rain  and  mist  made  it  so  dark  that  the  other 
ship  was  hid  from  view.  Preceiving  this,  the  helm 
was  clapped  up,  and  kept  her  dead  before  the  wind 
without  starting  the  sheets.  Were  under  short  sail, 
and  had  been  on  the  wind.  When  we  kept  off  were 
only  about  a  third  of  a  mile  apart.  Kept  the  yards 
braced  as  before,  so  that  she  would  show  up  as  little 
as  possible,  supposing  that  the  Englisliman  would  keep 
on  his  course  and  pass  us.  But  to  our  disappointment, 
when  it  lighted  up  his  jibboom  was  almost  over  us  ;  he 
had  missed  us,  and  judging  that  we  were  to  leeward, 
had  made  his  calculations  just  right  to  outwit  us. 
But  we  came  the  square  on  him  in  the  end.  I  still 
let  her  run  as  I  had  done,  steering  pretty  widely  to 
lead  him  to  think  we  were  indifferent  what  couise  was 
made.  No  chance  offered  for  us  to  escape  him';  when 
we  were  relieved  by  the  other  watch,  I  told  them  to 
get  away  from  him  if  they  could.  No  chance  offered 
during  that  watch.  The  third  watch  took  the  deck, 
and  the  wind  died  away  to  a  calm.  In  the  morning 
he  was  two    or  three  miles    on  our    lee    quarter,  wind 


136  WHALING    VOYAGE   OF    THE    SHIP  APOLLO. 

light,  and  we  outsailed  him,  but  in  the  afternoon  a 
breeze  sprang  up,  when  he  began  to  dr9,w  upon  us. 
By  and  b}^  up  went  his  cokjrs  as  a  signal  for  us  to 
heave  to.  At  first  no  notice  was  taken  of  them,  but 
after  he  kept  making  signals,  thought  best  to  heave 
aback  and  let  him  come  up.  Was  now  only  half  a  mile 
off.  "Now,"  said  1  to  our  new  man,  "you  haul  off 
your  duds  in  less  than-  no  time  and  put  mine  on  in- 
stead. He  wore  a  red  shirt  and  blue  pants,  and  for  a 
hat  he  had  a  Pati  with  a  brim  a  foot  wide.  "  Tell 
me,"  said  I,  just  the  same  story  you  told  the  captain 
when  he  shipped  you."  He  did  so,  and  then  I  told 
him  to  make  himself  scarce, — down  to  the  keelson  of 
the  hold  if  he  liked.  1  was  now  Matthew  Young. 
Turning  to  the  Captain,  said  I.  "  If  you  want  Mat- 
thew Young,  I  am  he.''  The  whole  was  clear  to  his 
vision,  and  judging  from  his  appearance  he  approved 
of  it.  After  Young  went  below  1  busied  myself  in 
the  waist,  planing  a  broken  oar  for  a  lance-pole.  Just 
before  the  boat  arrived  I  left  it  and  went  aft ;  told 
the  boys  not  to  betray  ma,  I  was  going  to  turn  in, 
had  a  severe  attack  of  fever  and  ague. 

It  was  not  long  before  tlie  old  Englishman-  rolled  in 
over  the  lee  quarter  rail,  most  essentially  smashed. 
He  was  a  very  large  man,  would  weigh  two  hundred 
and  thirty  poinds.  His  first  words  were,  "  Why 
didn't  yon  heave  to?"  Our  skipper  replied,  "You 
were  gaining  so  fast  I  did    not  think   it  worth    while; 


WHALING    VOYAGE     OF    THE     SHIP     APOLLO.  137 

you  have  a  great  sailor. '^  This  comyjliment  rather 
pleased  Johny  Bull;  said  he,  "I  have  come  after  my 
man,  where  is  he  ?  '^  He  was  told  that  he  was  below, 
sick.  He  would  like  to  have  him  called  up.  Orders 
vvere  given  fo^^  Young  to  be  called,  and  I  came  on 
deck.  He  looked  at  me  very  severely,  scrutinized 
every  feature,  said,  "Do  you  know  that  ship?"  *' I 
do  not,  sir ;  don't  think  I  ever  saw  her  before. '^ 
"  You  do,"  replied  he  ;  "you  and  five  others  stole  my 
boat  and  ran  away,  and  carried  off  our  ship's  tool." 
Now  don't  deny  it."  "I  did  not,  sir."  "Well,  did 
you  come  on  board  this  ship  at  Tombez  ?"  "I  did 
sir"  "  How  came  you  there?"  I  then  repeated  the 
story  as  the  runaway  had  told  it  to  me.  While  the 
conversation  was  taking  place,  our  crew  and  the  other 
ship's  crew  were  having  a  gam  together ;  some  of 
them  thought  I  was  the  man,  as  my  size  corresponded 
very  well,  but  my  voice  caused  a  diversity  of  opinions 
among  them.  I  was  somewhat  amused,  as  much  of 
their  talk  was  had  in  my  hearing. 

Finally  turning  to  our  Capt.,  said  he  "Captain,  is 
this  the  man  who  came  on  board  your  ship  at  Tom- 
bez  ?"  He  came  on  board  there,  on  my  honor  as  a 
man.  (It  was  no  lie,  —  I  did  several  times),  "My 
officers  all  saw  him  and  recognized  him,  when  he  was 
on  the  top-gallant  masthead  ;  1  think  we  will  take  him 
along-"  "Well,"  said  our  Capt.,  "if  the  man  belongs 
to  your  ship    you  must  have  him,  of    course,  but    you 


138  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

will  have  to  furnish  better  proof  than  you  have  before 
you  get  him^  now  that's  certain."  He  again  looked 
me  in  the  face,  asked  a  few  additional  questions,  then 
turning  to  the  Captain,  said.  ''That  be  d — n  for  a 
yarn,  he  is  not  my  man  ;  my  officers,  don't  know  as 
much  as  they  think  they  do."  He  was  then  asked  be- 
low to  get  something  to  drink,  and  was  not  long  in 
accepting  for  fear  the  Capt.,  might  forget  about  it.  I 
was  dismissed,  and  went  into  my  bunk  again.  It  was 
getting  about  supper  time,  both  crews  were  below,  and 
soon  a  plenty  of  rum  was  passed  into  the  steerage 
from  the  cabin  and  passed  round.  Tbey  said  it  was  a 
good  time,  but  I  was  getting  hungry  as  well  as  tired 
of  my  position  ;  all  that  I  got  of  it  was  what  I  saw 
and  overheard.  Some  of  the  English  sailors  wanted 
me  called,  being  hardly  convinced  but  that  I  was  the 
man,  but  as  I  was  sick  they  would  not  disturb 
me. 

They  got  to  be  pretty  jolly.  Yarns  were  spun  and 
songs  sung,-  and  the  evening  was  passed  in  good  hum- 
or hy  all  on  board,  —  excepting  myself,  for  my  mirth 
had  to  be  kept  under.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  English 
man,  with  considerable  assistance,  reached  his  boat 
and  they  shoved  off.  I  turned  out,  called  the  carpen- 
ter, and  if  my  clothes  didn't  look  nice  !  Dirty  water, 
grease  and  iron-rust,  beautifully  displayed  to  the  very 
best  advantage.  Together  the  carpenter  and  myself 
supped,   he    feeling    some    better    than    he    did  a  few 


WHALING    VOYAGE     OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  139 

hours  previous,  the  shakes  having  left  him  when  he 
discovered  the  Englishman  had  taken  his  departure. 
A  laugh  went  through  the  ship  from  stem  to  stern, 
while  we  all  felt  very  much  as  people  do  now-a-days 
when  they  utter  the  slang  phrase,  "Sold  again.''  Fre- 
quently afterwards  I  had  ,to  answer  to  the  name  of 
Matthew  Young.  Next  morning  the  other  ship  was 
far  away,  and  soon  out  of  sight  entirely.  —  About  a 
month  after  fell  in  with  ship  Boston,  a  Nantucket 
whaler,  under  the  command  of  a  cousin  of  mine,  one 
Clasby.  He  visited  our  ship,  and  after  being  on  board 
a  while,  Capt.  Doggett  told  him  the  story  of  the 
Englishman's  experience  looking  up  runaway  sailors. 
He  had  me  called  aft,  and  asked  me  how  I  dared  to 
play  it  on  the  old  fellow  in  that  shape.  I  told  him  for 
two  reasons :  one  was  from  pity  for  him,  (meaning 
Young),  the  other  from  pity  for  ourselves,  as  we  were 
short-handed.  He  said  he  should  hardly  have  thought  I 
would  have  dared  to,  but  it  was  a  pretty  slick  caper,  at 
any  rate.  He  afterwards  saw  and  conversed  with 
the    carpenter  about  it. 

Not  a  great  while  from  that  time,  Capt.  Clasby  fell 
in  with  the  Englishman,  and  during  a  visit  to  his  ship 
introduced  the  story  as  I  have  told  it,  by  telling  the 
captain,  that  he  had 'been  on  board  "the  little  Yankee 
ship"  (as  our  vessel  was  usually  called).  The  English 
captain  said  he  too  was  on  board  of  us  not  a  great 
while  before.     ''  Yes,"  said  Clasby,  "  they  served    you 


140  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

a  pretty  slick  caper,  didn't  they  ?"  ''  Oh,  no,  no  caper 
was  served  me,  it  v^as  a  mistake ',  I  thought  he  had  a 
man  belonging  to  us,  but  found  the  officers  to  be  mis- 
taken. There  was  no  trick  however."  Said  Capt. 
Clayby,  "  It  was  your  man  ior  I  saw  him  and  con- 
versed with  him.  The  man  you  saw  belonged  to  the 
ship  ;  I  knew  him  well,  as  he  was  a  cousin  of  mine. 
He  changed  clothes  with  your  man,  and  while  repre- 
senting him  before  you,  the  other  man  was  in  the  hold." 
"  Is  that  so  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Captain  in  much  sur- 
prise. "  I  have  heard  before  of  Yankee  tricks,  but  that 
beats  all  creation."  (He  might  have  added,  and  Johny 
Bull  in  the  bargain.)  Clasby  replied,  "  It  was  just  as 
I  tell  you  ;  that  boy  alwa^^s  was  a  big  rogue,  and  he 
played  it  pretty  well."  "Yes,  that  is  a  fact ;  I  often 
have  heard  of  Yankee  capers,  is  it  possible  I  have 
been  made  a  fool  of  by  one  of  the  same  species  ? 
Well,  I  rather  think  I  have,  and,  as  he  is  not  here  to 
take  a  drink,  won't  you  do  it  for  him  ?  But  I  want 
to  live  long  enough  to  see  him  once  more."  He  died 
not  a  great  while  after  ;  not,  however,  from  the  effect  of 
the  joke  played,  for  no  man  who  was  intended  for  a  self- 
murderer  would  ever  die  from  any  other  cause. 

About  these  times  we  fared  much  better  for  grub. 
The  bread  was  headed  up,  and  sweet  potatoes  were 
dealt  out ;  two  middling  sized  ones  or  one  large  one  to 
a  manfor  each  meal.  We  caught  several  black-fish,  and 
had  a    good    store    hanging    to  the  main-stay.      Some- 


WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  141 

tmcs  had  what  sailors  call  "duff/'  flour  and  water  mixed 
aiid  boiled  iii  salt  water,  after  being  placed  in  a  bag. 
If  a  part  of  it  was  allowed  to  get  cold  it  answered 
the  purpose  of  a  whetstone.  Now  and  then  the 
fiivorite  dish  of  samp,  seasoned  as  before  with  the  fresh 
meat  of  worms,  was  served  out.  Quite  a  moderate  day, 
shortly  after,  all  the  boats  went  out  after  a  whale. 
He  ran  to  windward  and  before  they  succeeded  in 
sti'iking  him,  he  was  ten  miles  from  the  ship.  He  was 
an  ugly  fellow.  The  captain's  boat  turned  him  up  and 
took  him  in  tow.  The  ship  still  remaining  far  off  in- 
stead of  trying  to  approach  the  boats,  was  observed  to 
be  acting  strangely,  sometimes  heading  on  the  wind,  at 
another  time  running  free.  We  hardly  knew  what  to 
make  of  it,  and  some  fears  were  entertained  for  the 
safety  of  the  ship  keeper  in  charge.  The  captain  picked 
a  crew  of  his  best  men  and  pulled  for  the  vessel, 
boarding  which,  he  found  things  not  exactly  as 
be  would  have  liked.  In  a  few  hours  the  boats 
with  the  whale  reached  the  ship,  and  early  next 
morning  all  hands  were  engaged  cutting  in,  trying  out 
and  stowing  down.  He  made  us  fifty  barrels.  We 
said  to  the  captain  that  it  was  unsafe  to  leave  the 
ship  as  we  had  done  previously;  we  thought  it  as 
well  to  put  some  other  person  m  charge.  He  replied 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  select  a  new  ship-keeper, 
and  calling  me  aft  told  me  I  was  needed  in  that  ca- 
pacity.    I  told  him    that  was  not  what  I  shipped    for, 


142  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

nor  did  I  desire  the  position.     "It  is  your    duty  to  do 

anything    that  is  for    the  interest  of    the    voyage,"  he 

replied.     In    answer  to  this,  told    him  I  was  fearful  of 

not  being   able    to   suit    him,    that    he    had    better  se 

lect   some  other    person.     ''No,''    said    he,  "you     may 

keep  the  ship.''     I  then  asked  if  I  was  not  entitled  to 

a  ship-keeper's  lay?     "  Certainly  you  are,  and  you  shall 

have    it."     "  Well,    sir,    I    would    like    to    have    it   in 

writing,    for   something   to    show  will    be   required    in 

settling  the   vo3^age."     He    showed    some   little   anger, 

.   and    asked    me   if    his   word   was   not%*to    be   taken.     I 

*  J* 

.  'replied,    "It   is   to   be   hoped  sir,   that   it   may  be  good 

15ut  *there  is  no  disputing  what  is  shown  in  black 
and  white."  He  gave  me  no  writing,  but  the  po- 
sition was  accepted  on  his  promise  to  do  so,  which 
he  failed  to  fulfil.  Soon  a  good  opportunity  was 
offered  for  showing  my  abilities  in  my  new  cast  of 
character.  A  large  whale  had  been  raised,  all  the 
boats  were  in  pursuit;  when  they  struck,  were  well 
to  windward  of  the  ship.-  With  the  assistance  of  a 
boy  twelve  years  of  age,  the  ship  had  to  be  woik- 
ed  against  the  wind,  and  .before  they  succeeded  in 
fetching  the  whale  to,  he  had  run  still  further  off. 
The  ship  was  anciently  rigged,  every  rope  of  hemp, 
mostly  stiffened  with  tar,  and  consequently  exceeding 
clumsy.  I  hauled  ropes,  braces,  sheets  and  tacks, 
till  from  my  eye^  flashed  streams  of  fire  as  protract- 
ed   as   herpiifg-sticks.     At   last   got   the    ship    up,    hove 


WHALIXG    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  143 

a  back,  and  the  whale  was  taken  alongside.  When 
the  captain  came  on  board,  he  complimented  me  in 
unmeasured  terms ;  perfectly  satisfied  with  my  first 
attempt  at  ship-keeping.  Well  he  might  have  been, 
thought  I.  We  cut  the  whale  in,  and  he  slowed 
down   forty   barrels. 

Our  water  casks  getting  low,  concluded  to  put 
away  for  Tombez  once  more..  We  had  a  good  spell 
of  quiet  on  board,  but  little  growling,  pleasant  weath- 
er, and  short  passage  Dropped  anchor  off  bar, 
soon  filled  our  casks  and  replenished  the  wood  pile. 
Mr.  Godfrey,  a  townsman  of  ours,  was  quite  sick 
below.  Capt.  D.-  ordered  me  to  go  down  and  pass 
up  everything  which  belonged  to  Mr.  G.,  as  he  was 
intending  to  put  him  on  shore  I  told  him  that  I 
did  not  care  to  comply  with  his  request,  when  he 
gave  the  order  to  another  who  attended  to  it.  The 
captain  picked  out  six  of  us,  who  he  said  were  af- 
flicted with  the  scurvy,  saying  that  he  had  made 
arrangements  with  a  planter  to  fresh  provision  us  on 
his  plantation  in  the  interior,  for  a  while.  I  told 
im  that  no  indication  of  that  complaint  was  on  my 
body,  nor  in  my  system,  but  the  boat  was  lowered 
and  for  the  plantation  we  started.  Had  a  good  time 
eating  country  produce  for  four  days.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  fifth  day  our  boat  landed  for  us,  the  one 
in  charge  informing  us-  that  the  ship  was  soon  to 
leave  port.     Inquiries   being    made   for    Mr.    G.,    were 


144  WHVLIXG    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

told  that  the  other  boat  had  gone  to  the  village  for 
him.  When  we  reached  the  ship  the  other  boats 
were  there,  and  had  not  been  to  the  village  for  the 
sick  man.  Capt.  Daggett  and  Mathevv  Young, 
during  our  temporary  absence,  had  been  having  a 
little  bit  of  a  row  in  relation  to  the  immoderate  use  of 
corn  serv^ed  out  to  the  hogs  about  deck  (I  allude  to 
the  four  legged  ones).  The  captain  told  him  he  feed 
them  too  high,  to  which  accusation  he  pleaded  not 
guilty,  and  enforced  his  words  by  the  use  of  some 
considered  (in  cabin  circles)  rather  insulting.  It  finally 
resulted  in  Young's  getting  his  ribs  stove  in  by  an 
unlucky  hoist  given  him  by  our  not  over  very  stiff- 
jointed  Captain.  This  was  in  the  afternoon.  Next 
morning  a  little  Drogar  anchored  near  us,  just  in  from 
down  the  coast.  Our  mate  sung  out,  "  Man  the  boat," 
calling  Young  to  get  in  with  the  others.  We  pulled 
off  and  boarded  the  craft  ;  found  plenty  of  wine  and 
aguardiente  on  board,  which  was  passed  around  quite 
freely.  Directly  looking  toward  the  ship,  saw  that  she 
was  getting  under  way.  Mate  cried  out,  "  Man  the 
boat,"  and  we  jumped  in  and  shoved  off.  Soon  no- 
ticed that  Young  was  missing,  but  the  mate  said  no 
matter,  we  could  send  a  boat  for  him.  The  ship  was 
headed  out  to  sea,  all  sail  on  he*r ;  we  caught  up,  and 
took  in  the  boats.  Mr.  Godfrey  and  Matthew  Young 
were  left  behind.  The  place  was  soon  lost  to  our  view 
and  I  have    never    seen  it  since,  nor    do   I  expect    to. 


WHALING    VOYAGE     OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  145 

Kone  of  us  expected  to  e^ver  see  Godfrey  again,  but 
we'  did ;  for  when  we  arrived  home  at  the  end  of  the 
voyage,  he  had  reached  there  in  advance  of  us. 

We  scon  arrived  on  whale  grcuLd,  two  hai.ds  short 
er  than  we  were  before  entering  port.  •  Had  been 
cruising  only  a  few  days,  when  a  large  ship  was  seen 
bearing  down  towards  us.  She  came  close  aboard, 
ounded  to  under  our  lee,  and  hove  abac*k.  We  soon 
ecognized  her  as  the  same  formerly  commanded  by 
the  old  Englishman,  who  we  afterwards  learned  had 
died,  and  the  command  devolved  upon  his  former  mate, 
who  manned  his  boat  and  boarded  us.  Almost  the  first 
words  he  uttered  were,  "Where's  our  man?''  Ho 
was  informed  that  we  left  him  on  shore  at  Tombez. 
The  statement  was  received  with  some  doubt.  He 
said,  "  I  don't  want  him,  I  wouldn't  have  him  on 
board  the  ship  if  I  could  as  well  as  not,  but  would 
like  to  talk  with  him."  "  He  is  not  here,  for  certain." 
"  Well,"  said  he,  "  then  allow  me  to  see  the  person 
who  represented  him  in  such  a  rascally  manner, 
I  had  the  whole  story  from  Captain  Clasby.  I 
was  called  aft,  and  of  all  the  mad  men  1  ever  saw,  the 
Old  Man  was  the  madest.  WHien  I  was  introduced 
by  our  captain  as  the  chap  he  inquired  for,  I  looked 
him  in  the  face,  hardly  able  to  restrain  my  -laughter. 
Said  I,  "How  do  you  do,  sir?"  He  replied,  "You 
are  the  fellow  who  so  deceived  Capt.  Graham,  are  you? 
How  dared    you  do  it?     Had    you  k?ciown  him  as  well 


146  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

as  I  did,  you  would  hardly  have  considered  it  safe/' 
"  Well  sii:/'  I  replied,  I  should  not  think  so  trifling 
an  incident  worth  speaking  of."  He  replied  that  it 
was  pretty  well  done  none  but  a  Yankee  would  have 
thought  of  it.  "1  will  give  you  the  credit  of  carrying 
out  a  good  joke  in  pretty  nice  shape,  and  if  you  are 
as  good  a  sailor  as  you  are  a  Yankee  trickster  and 
friend  to  Matthew  Young,  the  runaway  English  tar, 
you  must  be  a  valuable  man."  Upon  inquiring  partic- 
ularly about  Capt.  Graham,  were  told  he  died  of 
delirium  tremens.  He  was  a  most  inveterate  drinker 
and  the  verdict  rendered  in  his  case  was,  "  Rum  did 
it."  We  parted  company  with  the  ship  soon  after, 
and  saw  her  no  more  during  the  voyage. 

The  next  day  raised  another  large  whale.  As  before 
I  was  left  in  charge  of  the  ship,  all  the  boats  in  pur- 
suit, and  the  whale  far  to  windward.  The  Capt.  got 
fast,  but  lost  a  good  chance  to  lance  him,  by  allowing 
his  boatsteerer  to  practice  the  profession  of  bleeding; 
the  business  being  new  to  him,  he  failed  to  do  much 
execution.  The  whale  sounded,  took  ou^  all  the  line 
in  the  boat,  when  the  second  Mate's  boat  came  up, 
and  Mr.  Arey,  the  boat  header,  bent  on  another  one 
He  still  sank  deeper,  taking  a  good  part  of  the  second, 
line.  Presently  began  to  haul  line  and  gradually  he 
arose  -to  near  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  Capt 
seeing  Mr.  A.  getting  ready  to  lance,  told  him  not  t 
kill  that  whale,  for    he  wanted  Mr.   Boatsteerer  Norto 


/WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  147 

to  kill  him.  (Here  let  me  remark,  boatsteerers  on 
board  the  old  ship  Appollo  were  always  addressed  as 
"Mr.").  Mr.  A.  replied,  "If  tiie  whale  comes  up 
near  to  me,  I  will  throw  a  lance  into  him,  if  some  one 
comes  out  of  the  grave  to  forbid  it."  He  did  come 
up  all  right,  and  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  start  the 
claret  on  him,  which  he  did  ;  turned  him  np  in  less 
time  than  required  to  tell  it.  When  the  Old  Man  saw 
the  blood  flying,  he  sang  out,  "  Well  done,  my  good 
lad;  you  have  done  it  nicely."  "Yes,"  said  Mr.  A., 
"but  if  I  hadn't  killed  him,  Tophet  would  not  have 
been  enough  for  me,  according  to  your  views."  My 
best  endeavors  were  used  in  getting-  the  ship  conven- 
ient to  the  boats.  Got  the  whale  cut  in,  which  stowed 
us  down  between  fifty  and  sixty  barrels.  We  did  not 
pretend,  in  those  early  years  of  whaling,  to  make  any 
account  of  the  teeth,  only  saving  them  occasionally  for 
the  purpose  of  "  scrimshawning,"  as  sailors  term  the 
making  of  fancy  articles  from  the  parts  of  the  whale. 
After  this,  business  was  dull  for  some  months,  but  an 
ncident  occured  in  a  few  days  which  served  to  give  a 
little  variety  to  the  monotony  of  sea  life. 

The  day  was  moderate  ;  hardly  a  ripple  disturbed 
the  broad  expense  of  water  which  surrounded  us.  The 
lookout,  at  the  fore-top-gallant  mast-head,  saw  something 
in  the  distance  making  for  the  ship.  Some  curiosity 
was  manifested,  until  from  its  near  approach  it  was 
discovered    to  be  one  of   the    larger  species  of   turtle. 


148  WHALIXG    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

Mr,  Norton  immediately  ordered  the  Captain's  boat 
cleared  away  for  lowering;  a  number  jumped  in  and, 
chase  was  given  him.  As  they  pulled  up  behind, 
Norton  stood  ready  with  the  boat-hook,  intending  to 
enter  it  into  the  jaw,  or  forward  of  the  fore  flipper. 
Made  the  attempt,  but  as  the  skin  was  unyielding  and 
the  hook  rather  dull,  missed  his  aim,  which  only  had 
the  effect  of  waking  him  up  from  the  little  nap  he 
was  quite  innocently  enjoying.  He  dove  under  water 
about  ten  or  a  dozen  feet.  Mr  Norton  saw  where 
he  was,  saying,  "  Mr.  Turtle,  you  are  not  to  give 
us  the  slip  quite  as  easy  as  you  imagine, ''  slat  his 
hat  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  overboard,  and  under 
after  him.  Grabbed  him  aft,  bearing  down  pointed 
him  upward.  The  old  turtle  came  up  near  the  boat 
under  full  pressure,  when  he  was  .  secured  and  safely 
lodged  on  board.  Do  not  know  how  he  liked  boat-' 
sailing,  but  probably  he  had  never  before  enjoyed  such 
a  luxury.  The  turtle  was  after  the  Hawkbill  species, 
his  mouth  and  head  very  much  resembling  the  bird  of 
that  name.  He  weighed  two  hundred  pounds.  It  was 
a  foolish  experiment  for  a  man  to  try  ;  had  the  animal 
been  disposed  to  draw  his  hind  flipper-s  up,  Mr.  Nor- 
ton could  never  have  been  extricated  himself,  and 
consequently  uiust  have  been  lost  bej^ond  the  hope  of 
recovery.  I  imagine  that  was  the  first,  and  probably 
the  last  time  that  Mr  Norton  ever  became  so  attached 
to  one  of  those  naturally  ugly  quadrapeds. 


WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO*.  149 

Our  cruising  for  whales  was  attended  with  but  little 
success,  though  one  was  taken  occasionally.  When 
the  boats  left  early  in  the  morning,  no  cooking  was 
done  for  the  day;  but  if  the  "Doctor"  had  time  to 
put  a  dinner  on  to  cook,  I  was  usually  attended  to  its 
completion  in  his  absence.  About  this  time  our  Skip- 
per thought  he  would  put  away  for  Paiti  (a  seaport 
of  Peru).  Had  to  beat  against  trade  winds,  and  in 
about  ten  days  made  the  land.  Standing  into  a  bay, 
saw  a  curious  looking  craft  coming  out ;  soon  coming 
together,  it  proved  to  be  what  was  termed  a  "  Cata- 
maran/^ constructed  of  fourteen  logs,  thirty-five  feet  in 
length,  secured  by  trenails.  It  was  very  light  wood, 
the  large  ends  were  aft,  each  log  sharpened  in  front 
like  a  wedge,  a  platform  four  feet  high  a  little  abaft 
the  centre  with  a  thatched  house  upon  it,  the  water 
passing  over  the  logs  and  under  the  house.  On 
boarding  her,  ascertained  that  she  had  a  cargo  of  fruit 
and  quite  a  number  of  passengers.  Were  informed 
that  they  were  bound  to  Paiti  also,  and  her  commander 
said  he  would  keep  our  company.  The  idea  seemed  so 
ridiculous  that  we  laughed,  for  we  had  considered  our 
ship  a  very  superior  sailing  craft.  We  purchased  some 
fruits. 

The  Catamaran  had  two  masts,  on  each  of  which 
was  a  large  square  sail  made  of  grass  mats.  We 
were  told  that  we  were  two  miles  to  leeward  of  P. 
Stood  out  of  the  bay  in  company,  sharp  hauled  on  the 


150  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

wind.  We  noticed  that  the  man  who  was  steering 
our  fancy  neighbor  stood  knee  deep  in  the  water. 
Tacked  several  times,  but  no  great  difference  was  dis- 
covered in  the  sailing  qualities  of  either  vessel.  All 
day  we  kept  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  each  other ; 
she  held  us  very  good  play,  her  centre-board  holding 
her  up  to  the  wind.  Just  at  night  a  smart  breeze 
sprang  up.  We  reefed  but  one  topsail  at  a  time,  keep- 
ing our  headway.  The  other  lowered  both  sails  at 
once,  and  was  a  great  while  taking  in  the  reefs,  and 
by  that  means  she  got  some  distance  to  leeward  of 
us.  Soon  the  darkness  hid  her  from  our  view,  and 
we  have  not  seen  her  since.  We  worked  along  until 
we  judged  ourselves  all  right  to  go  in  by  daylight ; 
stood  off  shore  under  short  sail,  with  orders  to  keep 
that  course  until  two  o'clock,  then  to  tack  and  run  in. 
It  was  my  trick  at  the  wheel.  Just  before  the  hour 
of  two  the  Captain  and  mate  came  on  deck,  the  cap- 
tain saying  he  had  altered  his  mind  and  should  not 
enter  Paiti,  for  fear  of  detention  if  there  was  trouble 
between  the  Patriots  and  Loyalists.  ''  I  think,''  said 
he,  "  we  had  better  go  to  the  GallJpagos  Islands ;  there 
we  can  get  some  terrapin  if  nothing  else."  The  charts 
were  soon  spread  on  the  cabin  table,  the  course  traced 
and  distance  estimated  down  to  the  Islands,  and  for 
them  the  ship  was  headed.  • 

Light    winds    prevailed    and    our    progress  was  very 
slow.     Took  no  oil  on  the    passage.     After   many  days 


WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO.  151 

reached  Charles  Island,  where  we  fell  in  with  two 
Englishman  whalers  and  a  Nantucketer.  We  came  to 
anchor  close  by  them,  and  everything  bein^  secure  went 
on  shore  after  terrapin.  Went  far  into  the  interior 
over  to  Black  Beach,  so  called  from  its  ciuderry 
appearance.  Trees  called  cabbage  wood  and  prickly 
pciirs  were  scattered  here  and  there ;  only  one  spring 
of  water  was  found,  and  that  on  the  extreme  south  end. 
We  succeeded  in  taking  a  good  lot  of  terrapin,  usually 
selecting  those  most  convenient  to  carry  on  our  backs, 
the  usual  way  of  transporting  them. 

Here  we  remained  about  one  week,  occupying  our- 
selves daily  in  the  same  manner  Frequently  it  re- 
quired some  time  to  enable  us  to  find  the  sized  ones 
best  suited  to  our  ideas  ;  they  were  all  the  way  from 
as  large  as  a  silver  dollar  to  the  size  of  a  Henry  Clay 
cook  stove.  Some  were  so  large  that  they  could  easi- 
ly travel  with  four  good-sized  men  on  their  backs. 
Their  chief  article  of  diet  when  on  land  is  the  cab- 
bage-tree leaves,  which  are  broken  down  by  the  force 
of  the  winds;  but  sometimes  when  no  high  winds  lay  • 
their  food  on  the  ground  for  them,  a  large  number 
will  congregate,  and  with  one  accord  gnaw  into  the 
bark  of  these  trees,  till,  coming  to  the  pith  which  is 
soft  and  tender,  the  tree  falls  before  them.  The  trees 
grow  to  the  size  of  half-barrel.  I  have  often  taken 
them  from  their  work  and  pointed  them  in  another 
direction,  but  if  allowed  they  will   return    to    complete 


152  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

their  job,  never  leaving  it  until  it  is  completed. 
Though  they  appear  to  enjoy  eating  as  well  als  other 
animals,  yet  they  will  live  and  thrive  on  ship-board 
for  months  or  more,  with  -nothing  on  which  to  sub- 
sist. 

Three  hundred  were  put  on  board  our  ship,  stowed 
between  decks  or  anywhere  out  of  the  way.  They 
were  a  strange  kind  of  birds ;  did  not  seem  to  care 
whether  they  stood  on  their  head  or  heels.  Their 
meat  was  most  excellent ;  usually  made  it  into  stifles 
and  soups.  They  were  so  fat  that  half  a  bucket  full 
of  grease  could  be  taken  from  their  upper  shell  when 
butchered.  The  fat  was  sometimes  used  to  shorten 
those  favorite- "  dufis'-  previously  alluded  to. 

More  or  less  gamming  was  attended  to,  from  one 
ship  to  another;  on  one  of  these  occasions,  Capt. 
Coffin  of  the  Nantucket  ship,  told  us  one  of  his  men,  an 
Indian  from  Gray  Head,  had  been  missing  for  some 
days ;  did  not  know  but  that  some  accident  had  be- 
fallen him.  lie  w^as  nowhere  to  be  found,  and  as  he 
was  going  down  to  Tee  Bay,  wished  us,  if  he  turned 
up,  to  bring  him  along  with  us  when  we  came  down. 
It  was  our  intention  to  leave  in  a  day  or  ,.two. 
On  the  night  previous  to  our  leaving,  our  mate  order- 
ed the  boat  manned  ;  said  he  was  going  to  visit  the 
English  ship.  I  staited  to  get  into  the  boat  with 
others  belonging  to  her,  when  the  mate  told  me  it 
was  the  the  captain's  orders    that  I  should    remain  by 


WHALIXG    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHir    APOLLO.  153 

the  ship.  I  did  not  believe  it,  however,  and  while  the 
mate  went  to  the  cabin  for  something  he  had  left,  I 
jumped  into  her  and  hid  myself  under  some  old  jack- 
ets in  the  bow.  The  boat  went  alongside  the  ship,  all 
hands  including  myself  scrabbled  up,  it  was  quite  dark, 
and  I  escaped  the  notice  of  the  mate.  I  went  into 
the  forecastle,  and  there  saw  the  Gay  Head  Indian 
whom  I  recognized  from  the  Nantucket  kersey  of- 
which  his  clothing  was  composed.  He  was  very  com- 
posedly taking  his  supper.  Looking  him  in  the  face, 
said  I,  "  Hallo,  Gay  Head,  how  came  you  here  ?" 
He  replied,  "  1  belong  to  this  ship.''  "  Well,"  said 
I,  "you  have  belonged  to  her  only  one  day."  He  left 
in  disgust,  and  I    saw  him  no  more  for  the  night. 

Soon  after  it  was  "man  the  boat;"  the  mate  catch- 
ing sight  of  me  said,  "How  the  d — 1  came  you  here?" 
In  reply  told  him  that  he  brought  me."  "Did  you  come 
off  in  the  boat  ?  I-  did  not  see  you."  "  I  did,  sir,  but 
didn't  intend  you  ^ould  see  me;  I  was  coveied  up 
in  the  bow  of  the  boat.  It  passed  off  and  nothing 
more  was  said  about  it.  The  next  morning,  prepara- 
tions being  made  to  go  out,  I  asked  the  captain  if  he 
wasn't  going  to  take  Capt.  Coffin's  Gay  Header  to 
him  ?  He  replied,  if  he  knew  where  he  was  should 
do  so.  "Well,"  said  I,  "  he  is 'on- board' the  English 
ship  ;  I  saw  him  and  conversed  with  him  when  on 
board  the  ship  last  night."  As  no  comments  were 
made    regarding  my  visiting  the    ship,  it    satisfied  me 


154  WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP    APOLLO. 

that  the  mate  lied  to  me  the  night  before.  The  object 
he  had  in  view  I  never  learned.  The  boat  was  lowered, 
and  I  was  ordered  to  accompany  the  crew  for  a  visit 
to  the  ship.  Upon  reacbiug  her  the  captain  was  in- 
formed that  we  had  come  after  Capt  Coffin's  runaway 
sailor.  He  replied  that  he  koew  nothing  about  him, 
he  was  not  on  board  his  ship  that  he  knew  of.  1  was 
then  asked  if  I  didn't  see  him  in  the  forecastle  the 
last  night  ?  replied  that  I  did,  and  going  down  found 
him  still  there.  He  was  ordered  up,  and  we  took  him 
aboard  with  us  ;  he  was  rather  sulky,  didn't  wish  to 
go.  He  was  told  that  it  was  Capt.  Coffin's  wish  for 
us  to  bring  him  to  his  ship,  and  we  intended  to  do 
so. 

When  we  got  down,  set  our  signals  for  Coffin  to 
board  us.  The  mate  came  and  took  him  into  his  boat ; 
when  they  shoved  off,  the  Indian  took  an  oar  as  if  to 
assist  in  rowing  but  instead  darted  it  through  the 
planks  of  the  bow,  making  a  hole  in  her  which  required 
stuffing  with  old  rags  to  prevent  sinking.  The  mate 
told  him  he  would  sweaten  him,  and  no  doubt  he  did. 
It  was  not  characteristic  of  the  race  to  be  very  evil- 
minded  ;  this  case  was  an  exception  rather  than  an 
example  of  the  general  rule.  Perhaps  no  class  of 
people  on  the  globe  have  won  a  fairer  reputation  for 
bravery  and  seamanship  or  the  enviable  qualities  of 
superior  whalemen.  No  better  recommendation  was 
required    by  those    engaged  in   .the   whaling    interest, 


WHALING    VOYAGE    OF    THE     SHIP     APOLLO.  155 

than  to  be  assured  that  an  individual  belonged  to  the 
Gay  Head  tribe,  or  was  the  descendent  of  such 

The  full-blooded  of  that  race  have  become  almost 
extinct.  Deacon  Johnson,  an  old  and  much  respected 
Baptist  veteran,  is  1  believe,  the  only  living  represen- 
tative. 

The  terrapin  we  had  taken  were  stowed  in  difierent 
parts  of  the  ship,  some  amon^  the  casks  between  decks, 
some  on  deck;  it  mattered  little  to  us,  and  apparently 
less  to  them,  what  their  accommodations  were,  so  long 
as  they  kept  out  from  under  foot.  With  the  food  they 
afforded  and  that  of  the  blackfish  constantly  on  hand, 
we  fared  quite  sumptuously. 

We  continued  our  cruising  in  company  with  the 
ships,  with  but  little  success  for  some  time,  and  the 
captain  thought  best  to  return  to  his  old  whale  ground. 
Headed  her  off  that  way,  always  maintaining  a  lookout 
at  masthead.  Got  pretty  well  back.  At  this  time  the 
carpenter  Mr.  B.  Smith,  was  sick  and  unable  to  go  in 
the  boats.  It  was  my  lookout  ;  was  at  the  main  top 
gallant  head,  discovered  a  very  large  spout  of  a  sperm 
whale  along  way  to  leeward.  Sang  out,  "There  she 
blows  !  a  sperm  whale  of  the  beam  !  '^  The  wind  was 
light,  kej^t  off  for  him.  The  whale  went  down  and 
stayed  down  an  hour,  then. spouted  again  and  started 
to  leeward  ;•  kept  up  one  hour,  by  the  glass.  Captain 
said  he  must  be  a  large  fellow.  Were  going  so  slowly, 
concluded  to  chase    with  the    boats.     All    three    boats 


156  WHALIXG  VOYxiGE   OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO 

were  lowered  and  off  after  him.  I  was  left  with  the 
sick  man,  who  was  just  able  to  walk  ;  had  to  sit  down 
to  steer.  Well  for  us  that  the  whale  was  so  far  to  lee- 
ward, it.  was  my  intention  to  keep  him  so  as  long  as 
possible.  Didn't  run  down  very  fast  for  fear  he  would 
turn  to  windward.  I  went  aloft  with  the  glass,  and 
judged  that  the  whale  was  about  three  miles  away.; 
very  soon  saw  white  water,  and  concluded  they  were 
fast,  which  was  the  cage.  .  About  the  same  time  I  ob- 
served an  ugly  looking  squall  rising  to  the  windward, 
and  I  knew  if  sail  was  not  shortened  ^before  it  shut  us 
in  from  the  boats,  th^y  would  cut  from  and  loose  the 
whde.  • 

1  hurried  down,  set  the  bearings  of  the  whale  by  the 
compass,  and  told  the  sick  man  we  must  contrive  to 
rake  in  the  light  sails.  First  the  mizzen,  then  the 
fore  and  main  top  gallant  sails  were  taken  in.  Hauled 
the  foresail  up  snug,  then  slewed  the  ship  broadside 
to  the  boats  that  it  might  be  seen  that  it  was  un- 
necessary for  them  to  cut,  that  sail  had  already  been 
shortened  ready  for  a  squall.  It  was  observed  just  in 
time  to  prevent  them  from  cutting.  The  squall  struck, 
but  not  so  heavy  as*  was  anticipated,  though  she 
groaned  for  a  while.  After  it  passed,  headed  her  for 
the  boats.  The  whale  had  acted  pretty  ugly,  and  was 
still  spouting  thick  blood  ;  one  boat  was  badly  stove, 
but  pretty  soon  the  whale  was  dead. 

Bun  the  ship  down  and  hove  her  aback,  a  line  was 


TVHALIXG   VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP  APOLLO.  157 

ran  to  the  ship,  and  the  whale  taken  alongside  quite 
late  in  the  day.  The  captain  was  much  pleased  with 
our  management  on  board  the  ship,  said  he  couldn't 
have  done  better  himself,  adding.  "You  saved  the 
whale  for  us.^'  Cut  him  in  the  next  day,  that  is,  what 
the  sharks  didn't  carry  off ;  we  stowed  down  ninety 
barrels,  and  probabl}''  ten  or  fifteen  barrels  was  pilfered 
by  the  sharks,  many  of  whom  during  the  night  be- 
came the  victims  of  our  displeasure,  for  we  disliked  to 
feed  them  on  such  expensive  food  and  gave  them  cold 
iron  instead.         ^ 

Our  foretopsail  now'  beginning  to  look  pretty  black 
on  account  of  places  worn  thin,  a  man  was  sent  aloft 
to  remedy  the  evil  by  making  them  blacker,  by  giving 
them  a  coat  of  tar  ;  and  entirely  original  method  of 
mending  old  sails.  Several  times  this  was  resorted  to, 
and  by  the  time  our  voyage  was  accomplished  it  had 
a  most  singular  appearance.  Had  used  the  foresail 
for  the  whole  voyage.  Whales  were  scarce  after  this 
time,  and  it  was  judged  best  to  try  our  luck  on  the 
inshore  ground ;  accordingly  put  her  away  for  the 
coast.  Our  cook  (or  "  doctor,"  as  he  was  usually 
called),  used  to  parboil  a  sufficient 'quantity  of  terrapin 
over  nio^ht  for  next  rnorninpr's  breakfast,  when  not 
obliged  to  be  in  the  boats.  At  this  time  had  some 
already  prepared.  Quite  often  in  his  absence  I  would 
cfo  it  for  him,  during  my  deck  watch. 

The  sweet  potatoes  had  now  become  so   scarce  they 


158  WHALING    VOYAGE     OF     THE     SHIP     APOLLO. 

were  only  served  up  in  the  cabin,  but  during  the  day 
a  boatsteerer  had  contrived  to  hook  a  bucket  full.  It 
was  .our  watch  from  eight  o'clock  to  twelve.  Our 
caboose  stood  forward  against  the  bowsprit  bitts,  the 
forecastle  gangway  being  on  the  port  bow.  The  boat- 
steerer told  me  he  wanted  the  potatoes  boiled.  I  told 
him  that  as  we  were  heading  for  the  land,  the  old 
man  would  be  around  and  it  had  better  be  put  off  for 
another  time, 

'It  was  a  pleasant  night ;  I  went  below  and  took 
a  little  nap  on  my  chest.  Presently  one  of  the  watch 
came  down  and  woke  me,  saying,  "  come  on  deck,  we 
have  a  good  fire  in  the  galley,  and  the  potatoes  are 
boiling  and  nearly  done,  but  the  captain  is  in  the  smoke 
and  we  dare  not  take  'em  out.  What  had  we 
better  do  ?  "  I  replied,  "  'Tis  a  mess  of  your  own 
cooking,  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  what  to  ■  prescribe." 
Just  at  this  time  the  captain  growled  out,  ^'  What  is 
all  this  fire  doing  here  ?  "  With  a  lie  already  on  the 
end  of  my  tongue  I  replied,  "  We  have  tarrapin  on 
parboiling."  ''Who  has  the  care  of  it  ? "  he  asked 
"  Iliave,  sir,"  I  replied.  "Well,  come  along  and  at- 
tend to  it  then."  "  There  is  a  good  fire,  sir."  "Yes, 
I  see  there  is  enough  to  roast  a  bullock  ;  throw  some 
water  on  it,  you  don't  need  so  much."  Glad  of  the 
opportunity  of  shedding  less  light  on  the  subject,  soon 
extinguished  the  fiames  to  his  satisfaction,  and  no  less 
to  our  own. 


WHALING    VOYAGE    OF   THE   SHIP    ArOLLO.  159 

The  rest  of  the  watch  were  well  aft,  hoping  he 
would  come  to  them.  "  Now/'  said  he  to  me,"  go 
aloft  and  see  if  any  land  is  in  sight."  I  started  up 
the  weather-rigging  (he  was  on  the  lee-side  of  the  ves- 
sel, reached  the  foreyard,  and  perceiving  him  going 
toward  the  men  aft,  I  crossed  over  and  came  down 
the  lee  side,  dodged  into  the  galley,  and  before  you 
could  say  Jack  Robinson  relieved  the  coppers  of  the 
potatoes,  but  found  the  captain  coming  forward  again. 
Not  having  time  to  remove  them  without  his  knowl- 
edge, slid  the  door  too  as  far  as  it  would  slide.  He 
appeared  to  be  heading  for  the  galley  :  said  I,  "  I 
think,  sir,  the  land  is  in  sight."  ''Gosh  souls!  where 
away  ?  said  he.  I  pointed  off  the  lee  bow  to  a  heavy 
bank  in  the  horizon.  "  Come  this  way,  lads,"  he 
ordered,  "  and  tell  me  what  you  make  of  this  "  As 
quick  as  his  attention  was  directed  toward  what  I  very 
well  knew  was  only  a  cloud,  I  started  into  the  fore- 
castle with  the  potatoes  in  a  little  less  than  no  time. 
My  next  manoeuvre  was  to  place  the  kid  of  parboiled 
terrapin  where  he  could  not  fail  to  see  it,  if  his  at- 
tention was  given  in  that  direction. 

It  being  decided  not  land,  the  captain  wheeled  round 
and  asked,  "  Isn't  that  terrapin  done  yet  I  "  Said  I, 
''Yes  sir,  here  it  is.  in  the  kid;"  but  he  didn't  feel 
of  it,  and  I  was  glad  he  did  not,  for  its  coldness  wotJd 
have  betrayed  me.  *'  Well,  out  with  the  fire  then  ;  we 
have  no  wood    to  throw    away,"  he    added,  and  went 


160  WHALIXG  VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP   APOLLO.   ' 

aft.  It  was  now  nearly  time  for  the  next  watch  to  be 
called.  The  old  darky  cook  slept  in  the  forecastle 
alone,  and  when  he  slept  he  did  it  very  soundly.  I 
attempted  to  make  him  understand  how  things  were  in 
regard  to  potatoes,  told  him  if  the  old  man  questioned 
him,  to  let  him  think  I  had  been  assisting  him  with 
the  terrapin,  &c.  He  appeared  to  be  drowsey,  did  not 
seem  to  comprehend  the  situation,  and  in  order  to 
arouse  his  faculties  I  sawed  his  legs  across  the  edge 
of  the  berth  boards  till  ho  began  to  swear,  when  I 
knew  he  was  awake.  I  told  him  where  the  terrapin 
were  stowed,  but  he  of  course  was  to  know  nothing 
but  terrapin  if  any  enquiries  were  made,  and  promised 
him  if  he  carried  it  out  slick  he  should  have  the  next 
glass  of  grog  that  was  served  out  to  me.  I  knew  this 
would  make  it  a  sure  pop  with  him,  if  anything  could. 
The  next  morning  the  cook  went  into  the  hold  for 
wood  ;  had  thrown  quite  a  pile  up  on  deck,  when  the 
captain  ordered  him  aft.  He  went,  said  the  captain, 
"Such  work  as  this  won't  do,  cook."  What  work 
asked  he,  "  Well,"  said  the  captain,  ''  it  takes  half 
the  night  to  prepare  terrapin  for  breakfast."  The  cook 
said  it  couldn't  be  helped ;  he  didn't  always  have  time, 
and  so  got  others  to  help  with  it.  "  Who  had  the 
care  last  night?"  "Ripley,"  replied  the  cook. 
".  What !  do  you  trust  that  fellow  with  the  fire  at  night  ?'/ 
"Yes  sir  ;  he  said  he  would  have  a  good  lookout,  and 
do  it  all  right."     "I  should    say   he  was    as    good    as 


WHALING  VOYAGE   OF    THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  161 

his  word  ;  he  had  a  roarer.  I'm  afraid  he  will  burn 
lis  all  up  yet,  he's  all  over  the  ship  in  an  hour ;  you 
must  try  to  attend  to  it  yourself  in  the  future.'^  The 
cook  replied  that  he  always  had  when  he  could.  That 
wound  up  the  afl'air  except  eating  the  potatoes  which 
relished  remarkably  well,  tasting  all  the  better  for  the 
trouble  taken  in  securing  them.  The  captain  turning 
to  the  pile  of  wood  said,  "  Look  here  cookey,  you 
know  we  are  getting  short  of  wood  ;  you  must  heave 
part  of  that  into  the  hold  again.  Here  Edmund,  (ad- 
dressing his  son),  go  below  and  get  a  glass  of  grog 
for  the  cook.'^  The  wood-pile  diminished  rapidly,  and 
so  did  the  grog  shortly  after. 

The  boy  had  been  in  the  habit  of  bringing  liquor 
into  the  steerage  for  the  cooper  and  carpenter,  both 
having  through  life  been  accustomed  to  it.  The  cap- 
tain thought  it  too  bad  for  them  to  be  denied  it  now, 
when  it  was  almost  second  nature  to  them.  On  one 
occasion  of  the  boy's  ''spiritual''  visit,  in  fun  I  re- 
marked that  I  wished  I  was  a  cooper,  carpenter,  or 
some  other  mechanical  devil,  that  I  might  have  a  little 
once  in  a  while.  The  boy  left,  but  soon  returned  and 
said,  ''  Ripley,  father  wants  you  in  the  cabin."  What 
is  the  matter  now  ?  thought  I.  What  I  had  done  of  a 
serious  nature  to  offend,  I  was  unable  to  conjecture  ; 
told  the  boy  when  they  had  done  their  dinner  in  the 
cabin,  I  would  come  and  see  him.  He  carried  my  re- 
ply and  immediately  returned,    saying,    "  Father  wants 


162  WHALIXG   VOYAGE   OF  THE   SHIP   APOLLO. 

you  now,  Ripley."  This  time  I  went,  and  as  I  ap- 
proached the  table  Capt.  Daggett  asked  m^  if  I  was  a 
cooper?  ''No,  sir,"  said  I.  "Are  you  a  carpenter  ?  ' 
"  No,  sir ;  but  I  can  make  a  box  that  will  hold  sweet 
potatoes."  '' Goshsoulsl"  he  exclaimed,  (a  favorite 
expression  of  his).  "Well  Ripley,"  said  he,  "repeat 
what  you  said  to  the  boy  when  he  brought  the  grog 
into  the  steerage."  Said  I)  "  there  was  no  harm  in- 
tended, sir  ;  having  often  seen  the  boy  on  his  mission, 
I  uttered  the  expression  referred  to."  The  bottle  was 
on  the  table,  which,  with  a  tumbler,  he  shoved  over 
to  me,  saying.  "Now  take  a  good  drink  yourself; 
knowing  how  much  you  have  knocked  around  the  world, 
I  ought  to  have  considered  you  in  connection  with  the 
others.  But  help  yourself  and  don't  be  afraid  of  it." 
Not  knowing  its  contents,  I  replied  that  to  drink  after 
him  was  manners.  A  moderate  drink  was  poured  out 
which  I  drank,  while  he  insisted  that  as  there  was  a 
]3lenty  of  it  I  must  not  slight  it.  I  remarked  that  a 
little  suited  me  best.  ""  In  the  future,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, "when  the  cooper  and  carpenter  have  their  grog, 
yours  will  be  sent  also  ;  but  as  to  the  boys,  they  are 
better  without  it.  He  was  true  to  his  word,  but  it 
didn't  often  occur,  and  so  my  constitution  was  not 
injured  by  excessive  indulgence. 

About  this  time,  fearful  that  our  skipper  would  not 
know  the  circumstances  of  the  potatoe-cooking,  I  told 
the .  story  as  it  was,  in    the  presence  of   a  person  who 


WHALING  VOYAGE   OF  THE   SHIP  APOLLO.  163 

had  won  the  reputation  of  being  a  mail-carrier  on  board 
the  ship.  The  same  day  the  captain  came  to  me  and 
said:  "Ripley,  I  understand  you  are  a  good  hand  to 
boil  potatoes  in  the  night.'^  I  replied  that  I  was,  if 
while  so  doing  I  could  lead  him  to  suppose  the  land 
was  in  sight.  "  Yes/'  said  he,  "  that  was  all  that 
saved  your  bacon  ;  it  was  a  nice  caper,  and  I  will 
give  you  credit  for  it."  "Well,''  said  I,  "suppose 
you  had  found  it  out  at  the  time  ?"  He  replied  that 
it  would  have  gone  hard  with  me. 

Most  every  day  more  or  less  patches  of  tar  were 
made  on  the  foretopsail.  Still  we  cruised  for  whales 
sometimes  for  weeks  without  seeing  a  spout,  and  then 
raise  a  whale  only  to  chase  the  whole  day  without 
getting  him  A  week  later,  no  land  in  sight,  saw  a 
large  school  of  sperm  whales  going  to  windward  very 
fast.  Lowered  all  the  boats  ;  one  boat  got  fast  to  a 
little  fellow,  the  others  kept  on  in  the  hope  of  catch- 
ing up  with  the  others,  but  gave  it  up,  and  returned 
to  assist  in  towing^  the  other  whale  now  dead.  He 
had  acted  quite  strangely  before  the  thick  blood  was 
fetched,  turning  round  and  round.  On  examining  him, 
was  found  to  be  blind  in  one  eye,  and  his  object  in 
turning  to  the  right  was  to  bring  his  left  to  bear  upon 
the  boat ;  which,  as  the  boat  turned  with  his  move- 
ment, he  was  unable  to  do,  and  the  difficulty  under 
which  he  labored  was  not  obviated. 

The    whale    was    taken    to    the    ship,    making    only 


164  WHALIN^G    VOYAGE    OF    THE    SHIP   APOLLO. 

thirty-five  barrels.  Saw  no  more  chances  for  ten  days 
or  a  fortnight.  A  few  more  patches  of  tar  were  added 
to  the  topsail.  Not  long  after  saw  a  large  school  of 
fine  seal,  asleep  on  the  water.  One  boat  put  ofi"  in 
pursuit,  paddling  up  to  leeward  that  they  might  not 
scent  their  pursuers  Killed  one  with  the  spade  or 
lance  ;  he  was  about  as  large  as  the  body  of  a  small 
horse  ;  hoisted  him  in  and  hauled  him  into  the  lee 
waist.  One  of  the  officers  requested  me  to  skin  him, 
I  went  at  it,  while  the  most  of  the  crew  acted  as  specta- 
tors. Was  at  work  about  the  head,  and  lifting  the  skin 
opened  his  mouth,  and  displayed  two  jaws  of  very 
black  teeth.  The  captain,  wishiDg  for  a  good  sight ; 
said,  "  Ripe]y,  open  his 'mouth  again,"  I  did  so,  when 
the  captain  exclaimed  as  usual,  "  Goshsouls !  what  do 
you  suppose  ails  the  critter  ?"  I  replied  that  without 
any  doubt  he  had  eaten  so  much  salt  meat  it  had 
brought  on  the  scurvy,  and  that  must  be  tlie  cause  of 
his  teeth  being  so  black.  He  made  no  more  comments 
and  walked  aft.  The  cooper  said  it  was  a  wonder  I 
didn't  get  my  brains  knocked  out,  answering  the  cap- 
tain that  way.  I  told  him  it  was  no  easy  matter  to 
knock  out  brains  where  there  was  a  general  scarcity 
of  them.  The  skin  of  the  seal  was  used  to  cover 
chafed  parts  of  the  rigging,  the  blubber  was  tried  out 
and  found  to  yield  an  excellent  oil.  The  balance 
was  given  to  the  sharks.  We  had  frequently  taken 
seal  but  none  so  large. 


WHALING  VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP  APOLLO.  165 

As  the  terrapin  had  become  nearly  exhausted,  hav- 
ing given  many  to  other  ships,  blackfish  was  chiefly 
served  out  to  us  for  meat. 

The  bright  waist  looking  rather  tarnished,  thought 
best  to  give  it  a  coat  Of  paint,  for  which,  from  the 
lack  of  anything  better,  we  took  porpoise  oil  mixed 
with  tar,  and  soot  from  the  cooks  funnel,  which  looked 
very  well  when  first  put  on,  but  during  the  night  the 
sea  was  rough,  and  before  morning  the  paint  was 
washed  off,  leaving  it  in  a  still  worse  condition  than 
before.  That  was  all  the  painting  done  for  the  voyage. 
Were  now  working  up  the  coast  toward  Cape  Horn. 
Saw  one  lone  sperm  whale ;  he  was  moving  very  slow, 
put  after  him  with  two  boats  and  soon  fastened  and 
killed  him.  A  good  reason  was  manifest  why  he  was 
so  moderate  in  his  movements.  ILis  tail  was  nearly 
rotted  off,  and  his  body  was  covered  with  eruptions; 
was  a  sight  to  behold.  lie  was  as  large  as  a  fifty 
barrel  whale,  but  we  only  got  twenty.  This  was  the 
last  sperm  whale  taken  during  the  voyage,  making 
eight  hundred  and  eight  barrels  altogether.  As  the 
prospect  now  looked  bad  for  getting  more,  concluded 
to  put  away  for  the  Brazil  Banks,  in  quest  of  right 
whale. 

With  a  fair  wind  and  plenty  of  it,  soon  got  around 
the  cape  ;  three  days  we  scud  under  a  reefed  topsail 
alone.  Saw  a  number  of  ships  but  spoke  none.  Oc- 
casionally a  whale  was  seen,  but  as  it  was  quite  rugged 


166  WHALING    VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

did  not  put  the  boats  out.  In  due  time  arrived  at  the 
banks;  found  whales  to  be  quite  numerous  ;  one  day 
lowered  two  boats,  the  rugged  weather  requiring  a 
boat's  crew  to  remain  on  board  the  ship.  They  struck, 
but  not  being  acquainted  with  right  whaling,  he  was 
not  secured.  Not  long  after  it  was  ''lower  away'' 
again  ;  managed  to  get  one  this  time,  a  very  large 
fellow.  It  was  cold  and  rough  whaling,  and  it  didn't 
take  us  long  to  get  disgusted  with  it.  We  well  knew 
the  oil  was  hardly  worth  boiling  out,  and  frequently 
would  chase  a  long  time,  stiike  and  part  our  lines,  or 
the  whale  would  sink.  Luck  seemed  to  be  against  us ; 
we  were  about  disheartened,  and  wished  to  leave  the 
business. 

Just  after  taking  another  whale,  it  began  to  blow  ; 
we  had  to  take  in  the  fore  and  mizzen  topsails  and 
close  reef  the  main.  When  we  came  to  furl  the  fore 
topsail,  it  required  all  hands  and  took  an  hour  to  roll 
it  up.  Thelhick  patches  of  tar,  and  it  being  extremely 
cold,  it  was  like  handling  a  side  of  sole  leather.  The 
roll  was  as  large  as  a  four  barrel  cask. 

Shortly  after  had  pleasant  weather  again.  Saw 
whales  quite  often  ;  killed  and  sank  half  a  dozen  ;  only 
saved  one,  for  our  lines  were  getting  very  rotten.  A 
few  days  after  we  were  again  compelled  to  reef  as  fast 
as  we  could.  We  were  laying  on  the  starboard  tack  ; 
it  was  my  watch  on  deck,  and  the  sea  was  getting 
v^ery  rough.     She  fetched  a  deep  roll  to  leeward,  struck 


WHALING  YOTAGE   OF   THE   SHIP   APOLLO.  16Y 

the  waist  boat  on  the  water,  and  unhooked  the  forward 
tackle,  partially  filling  her  with  water.  The  gripes 
were  parted,  and  when  the  ship  rolled  to  windward, 
the  boat  struck  her  with  great  force  and  considerable 
racket.  We  were  in  hopes  she  would  break  away  and 
clear  herself  from  the  ship,  for  fear  the  captain  might 
be  disturbed  ;  but  as  we  concluded  to  get  her  in,  call- 
ed all  hands  and  got  her  in  on  deck.  The  officers 
went  below.  On  account  of  the  roughness,  the  cabin 
lamp  was  left  on  the  floor,  burning  dimly.  The  mate 
undertook  to  increase  the  flame  by  picking  up  the 
wick,  neither  he  nor  the  captain  meanwhile  being  in 
the  best  of  humor.  The  captain  angrily  asked  him 
what  he  was  trying  to  do  ;  Said  he,  ''I  am  trying  to 
coax  this  lamp  to  burn  ;  your  d — d  lazy  boy  hasn't 
trimmed  it  to-night.'^  By  that  he  clenched  the  mate, 
but  by  some  means  tumbled  against  a  chest,  which 
knocked  from  his  cheek  a  piece  of  skin  as  large 
as  a  silver  quarter  of  a  dollar.  They  had  quite  a 
squabble,  but  I  did  not  see  who  came  off  best,  nor  did 
I  much  care. 

Next  day  it  was  rugged,  no  whales  in  sight;  the 
captain  and  mate  were  on  deck.  All  hands  were  call- 
ed aft,  and  the  captain  addressing  the  crew  said,  ''  Do 
you  see  my  face  ?  Mr.  Luce  struck  me  last  night.  ^' 
Mr.  Luce  denied  the  assertion,  said  that  the  scar  was 
made  by  the  captain  flilling  against  the  corner  of  a 
chest.     To  which  the   captain  replied,  "  Mr.  Luce,  you 


168  WHALING   VOYAGE   OF   THE    SHIP  APOLLO 

are  no  longer  an  officer  on  board  this  ship,  I  break 
you,  and  it  is  my  orders  that  hereafter  the  crew  do 
not  regard  your  commands,  neither  men  nor  boys, 
under  penalty  of  having  their  voyage  stopped  when  we 
get  home."  The  crew  all  liked  Mr.  Luce,  and  prefer- 
red him  for  mate  ;  did  not  know  whom  he  would 
appoint,  and  it  was  very  evident  that  a  general  dis- 
satisfaction existed  with  the  present  arrangement,  by 
the  lit  le  squads  of  men  scattered  here  and  there  about 
the  vessel,  in  earnest  conversation.  The  captain  per- 
ceived this  to  be  the  case,  and  calling  the  cooper 
one  side  asked  him  to  inform  him  just  how  things  were 
in  relation  to  it,  said  he,  "  Are  the  fellows  going  to 
mutiny  and  take  the  ship  ?"  "  Well,''  siad  the  cooper, 
"  they  don't  like  your  proceedings,  are  not  satisfied 
with  your  breaking  the  mate,  they  want  no  other  one 
to  take  his  place,  and  will  not  stand  it.''  Said  the 
captain,  ''  I  have  forbidden  all  hands  obeying  him,  I 
dislike  to  take  back  my  words,  but  if  he  will  make 
acknowledgment  and  take  his  place  like  a  man,  they 
may  obey  him  as 'heretofore."  We  asked  him  to  take 
the  place  of  mate  on. the  conditions  named.  He  re- 
plied he  would    see  him  d d  first    before    he  would 

acknowledge  ;  he  had  nothing  to  acknowledge  to  him 
for.  He  took  his  place,  and  things  went  on  as  be- 
fore. 

All  hands  still  sicker  of  whaling  than  ever,  concluded 
the    best    move    next    made    would    be    toward    home. 


WHALIXG  VOYAGE  OJ'  THE  SHIP  APOLLO  169 

Headed  her  that  way ;  had  a  good  run,  with  fair 
winds.  Made  the  coast  of  North  America  first  off 
Montoguo  Point.  We  took  no  pilot,  as  one  of  the 
boatsteerers  used  to  follow  the  business,  and  was  familar 
with  the  coast.  He  was  given  charge.  When  we  reached 
the  flats  opposite  the  harbor  of  Edgartown,  a  lot  of 
boats  came  to  us,  they  having  heard  of  our  approach. 
The  captain  jumped  into  one  of  the  sailboats  and 'went 
on  shore.  The  wind  being  now  ahead,  we  had  to  beat 
into  the  harbor,  and  the  pilot  allowing  his  attention  to 
be  given  too  much  to  visitors,  the  first  thing  we  knew 
the  ship  fetched  up.  on  the  northeast  end  of  Chappaquid- 
dic,  on  Stony  Point,  Cape  Pogue. 

It  was  now  near  night,  and  we  sent  up  town  for  a 
smack.  Sent  down  the  three  top-gallant  masts,  and  in 
the  evening,  the  vessel  arriving,  got  out  a  large  anch- 
or with  a  long  scope  of  cable.  At  high  water  hove 
her  off  and  ran  up  to  Dea.  Mayhew's  wharf  Almost 
the  first  man  we  saw  was  Mr.  Godfrey,  whom  we  sup-- 
posed  long  since  dead  and  buried  in  Tombez.  Left 
penniless  as  he  was  in  a  foreign  country,  he  had 
managed  to  pick  his  way  from  one  land  to  another, 
swimming  rivers  penetrating  forests,  sometimes  getting 
a  short  lift  from  one  conveyauce  by  land,  at  another 
by  water  ;  at  last  arriving  before  us.  He  was  a  good 
navigator,  and  this  must  have  done  him  good  ser- 
vice. 

We  tied    her    up,  furled    the    sails,  and  if    any    one 


170  WHALING  VOYAGE   OF   THE   SHIP  APOLLO. 

wished  to  see  a  rough    looking    vessel,  they  had    only 
to  visit  Mayhew's  wharf  to  do  so. 

The  oil  turned  out  1011  barrels,  which  was  sold  at 
the  rate  of  thirty-eight  cents  per  gallon  for  the  sperm, 
and  twenty-two  for  the  right  whale.  My  wages  after 
settling  the  voyage  amounted  to  seven  dollars  -per 
month ;  was  absent  twenty -two  months,  and  I  was 
perfectly  satisfied  that  I  had  seen  all  the  experience  I 
desired  in  the  whaling  business.  My  outfit  cost  me 
thirty  dollars,  and  on  my  return .  brought  back  in  good 
condition  twenty  dollars  worth.  This  ship  afterwards 
made  two  quite  successful  voyages  sperm  whaling,  and 
•  was  finally  condemned  and  hauled  into  the  shore,  be- 
low the  residence  of  her  chief  owner.  Here  for  many 
years  her  hulk  lay,  a  fitting  memento  of  the  early  en- 
terprise of  those  who  sent  her  out.  Recently  the 
naked  timbers,  over  which  the  tide  ebbed  and  flowed 
twice  in  twenty-four  hours  for  so  many  years,  were 
removed  for  the  sake  of  the  copper  fastenings  ,  but  a 
knee,  termed  the  dead  wood,  which  was  a  part  of  the 
stem  work,  may  yet  be  seea  on  the  premises  belong- 
ing to  the  town  poorhouse,  and  although  it  connot  be 
less  than  eighty-five  years  old,  no  sign  of  decay  is  vis- 
ible upon  it.  This  should,  and  douhtless  will  be,  pre- 
served by  some  of  our  enterprising  citizens  as  a  relic 
of  the  first  vessel  engaged  in  this  interest  by  our 
townspeople,  as    well  as  a  memorial    perpetuating    the 


.   WHALING    VOYAGE   OF    THE    SHIP    APOLOL.  171 

names  of  those  who  performed  the  voyage,  two  of 
whom  only  survive,  viz ;  Capt.  G.  A.  Baylies,  and 
the  subject  of  this  narrative. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

UNCLE    JETHRO    NEXT    GOES    COASTING. 

FTER  remaining  at  home  a  few  weeks,  spending 
my  leisure  time  in  the  society  of  my  friends,  find- 
ing that  my  long  absence  had  not  diminished 
the  interest  I  had  felt  in  them  in  times  past.  From  inti- 
mations received  from  parties  concerned,  in  regard  to 
lawsuits  about  to  be  instituted  between  different  parties 
who  were  on  board  the  old  Appollo,  thought  to  avoid 
appearing  as  evidence  by  making  a  voyage  south. 

Shipped  on  board  a  coaster  called  the  Native.  We 
proceeded  to  Boston,  took  in  a  load  of  salt  for  Glouc- 
ester, delivered  it  without  any  particular  incident  attend- 
ing us,  with  the  single  exception  of  a  little  bit  of  ro- 
mance with  which  I  was  connected.  We  were  lying 
alongside  the  wharf,  just  as  the  sun  was  going  down 
on  a  Sunday  evening.  A  young  man  in  company  with 
two  young  ladies  came  to  the  vessel,  and  asked  me 
for  the  use  of  our  boat  to  take  a  little  moonlight  ex- 
cursion. I  told  him  if  he  would  moor  the  boat  under 
the  bow  as  he  found  her,  I  had  no  objection  to  his 
using  her.  He  took  the  girls  into  the  boat  and  started 
down  the  harbor. 

112 


UNCLE    JETHRO    NEXT     GOES    COASTING.  1*13 

Soon  after  dark  I  turned  in ;  lay  a  spell  but  was 
very  restless ;  thought  all  the  mosquitoes  and  flies  in 
creation  were  about  me.  I  turned  out  and  went  upon 
deck  to  get  some  fresh  air,  as  it  was  warm.  Took  a 
seat  on  the  quarter-deck  ;  soon  perceived  the  boat  was 
returning  and  near  at  hand.  The  young  man  laid  the 
oars  down,  and  took  hold  of  one  of  his  companions, 
said,  "  Now,  Mary  Ann,  I'm  going  to  dip  you."  "  Oh,'' 
said  she,  "  don't  James ;  these  are  my  best  clothes !  " 
He  replied,  "  I  don't  care,  overboard  you  go,"  and 
pushed  her  headlong  into  the  water.  She  turned  and 
clutched  the  gunwale  of  the  boat.  "Ah,"  said  he,  "that 
wont  do  ;  you  are  going  all  under  ;  a  Baptist  shall  be 
made  of  you."  "  Well,  then,  please  let  me  remove 
my  combs,"  which  being  done,  he  unclasped  her  hands 
and  pushed  her  entirely  from  sight. 

I  had  been  observing  the  movements,  unseen  by  them, 
and  could  not  determine  what  to  think  about  it.  When 
he  was  ready  he  hauled  her  in,  and  sculled  the  boat  to 
the  bows  of  the  vessel,  and  darted  the  oar  upon  the 
wharf.  The  lady  who  was  dry  landed  in  safety,  al- 
though the  boat  was  not  secured  by  her  warp  ;  while 
the  other  lady,  in  attempting  unaided  to  gain  the  wharf, 
reached  it  with  her  hands,  but  in  the  act  shoved  the 
boat  off,  so  that  before  she  could  get  out  or  recover 
her  position  again,  went  plump  into  the  water.  She 
sank  out  of  sight ;  the  other  lady,  who  was  her  sis- 
ter, screamed  out,  "  Mary  Ann   is    drowning  I  "     Soon 


174  FNCLE    JETHKO    NEXT    GOES   COASTING. 

the  drowning  girl  rose  to  the  surface,  raised  one  arm, 
screached  in  agony,  and  disappeared  again  ;  while  her 
male  companion  bewildered  and  half  drunk,  stood  quite 
motionless  and  stupefied.  Said  I,  ''jump  and  catch 
that  woman,  or  she  will  never  rise  again."  Thus 
aroused,  over  he  went,  caught  her,  and  held  her  head 
out  of  the  water. 

With  a  long  pull  I  reached  the  boat,  pulled  it  in, 
jumped  into  it  and  went  to  rescue  them ;  first  pulled 
in  the  girl,  afterwards  got  the  man  in.  By  this  time 
a  dozen  or  more,  who  had  heard  the  cries  of  the  sink- 
ing girl,  had  appeared  in  their  sleeping  apparel  to 
witness  the  scene. 

Sent  the  excursion  party  home,  telling  them  I  would 
take  care  of  the  boat.  I  never  saw  them  after, 
but  learned  that  they* were  the  daughters  of  a  widow 
lady,  one  of  whom  was  receiving  the  attentions  of  their 
brutal  companion.  He  was  an  intemperate  fellow,  and 
this  little  circumstance  ended  the  courtship. 

Our  craft  returned  to  Boston,  took  in  an  assorted 
cargo  for  New  York,  where  we  arrived  in  safety  and 
discharged  it  all'  right.  Loaded  with  corn  and  flour 
for  Boston.  Contrasting  our  present  manner  of  living 
with  whalemen's  fare,  we  considered  ourselves  in  clover. 
Fair  winds  prevailing,  got  along  nicely  ;  sometimes  the 
tide  or  wind  heading  us,  we  would  run  into  Edgartown 
for  a  harbor,  stopping  a  day  or  a  night,  giving  me  the 
opportunity  of  going  out  on  the    Great    Plain,  where  a 


THE    :MAKKIAGE     Page  175. 


UNCLE    JETHRO    XEXT    GOES    COASTING.  175 

certain  young    lady    would    receive  my    friendly    visits 
quite  naturally  by  this  time. 

On  arriving  at  Boston,  a  cargo  of  plaster  awaiting  our 
trasportation,  a  gang  of  Irishmen  very  vigorously  dis- 
charged our  grain,  by  the  aid  of  a  spiritual  manifesta- 
tion which  they  had  furnished  very  liberally,  with 
the  promise  of  remuneration  in  proportion  to  their  dili- 
gence. '  It  was  lively  work  until  the  cargo  was  stored. 
Next  day  loaded  for  Richmond,  Ya.,  sailing  the  follow- 
ing day.  Soon  arrived,  finding  the  weather  so  extremedy 
hot  could  hardly  breathe.  Took  in  a  load  of  sea  coal 
for  Albany,  arrived  and  discharged,  took  in  grain  again 
for  the  Boston  market,  and  continued  making  these 
trips  until  sometime  in  November,  when  the  vessel  was 
laid  up  and  all  hands  discharged.  We  returned  to  the 
Vineyard,  as  usual  glad  tcf  get  home,  and  perhaps  a 
little  more  so. 

My  mind  was  now  occupied  with  a  very  important 
circumstance,  the  anticipation  of  which  I  had  treasured 
for  five  years  past.  Only  a  few  days  more,  and  I 
hoped  to  realize  the  consumation  of  all  my  cherished 
plans.  The  young  lady,  (whom  I  have  already  intro- 
duced to  you),  would  be  twenty-seven  on  Christmas 
and  preferring  to  be  married  before  reaching  that  age, 
the  wedding  was  appointed  to  take  place  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  bride's  father,  on  the-  afternoon  of  Dec. 
24th,  1818.  On  that  occasion  we  received  the  cordial 
greeting  of  many  dear  friends,  not    forgetful    of  course 


1*26  UNCLE  JETHEO    NEXT    GOES    COASTIXG. 

of  good  old  Aunt  Debby.  As  their  was  no  lack  in  the 
provision  made  for  the  entertainment,  it  was  considered 
a  gay  and  festive  time.  '  As  the  fashions  of  olden  times 
warranted  and  rather  expected,  a  generous  supply  of 
cake  and  wines  were  furnished,  without  any  regard  to 
anything  but  the  wishes  of  our  guests. 

All  appeared  to  enjoy  th^  occasion.  The  merry  laugh 
passed  around,  and  jokes  were  indulged  in  until,  at  a 
reasonable  hour,  with  the  congratulations  of  our  friends 
stamped  upon  our  united  hearts,  we  saw  them  take 
their  leave. 

Merry  Christmas  was  celebrated  by  the  second  edition 
of  our  wedding  party,  given  at  my  mother's,  much 
after  the  fashion  of  the  previous  day,  leaving  out  the 
marriage  ceremony,  which  did  not  require  repeating, 
as  Parson  Thaxter  had  a  way  of  doing  such  jobs  that 
it  never,  or  rarely,  happened  that  it  had  to  be  per- 
formed the  second  time  to  make  it  strong.  After  our 
union,  until  the  first  of  February  remained  with  my  new 
bride.  The  weather  was  as  mild  as  May,  and  it  was 
thought  Winter  had  broken.  On  the  first  of  February, 
in  Company  with  Capt.  Ripley,  started  for  Boston,  by 
crossing  the  sound  and  then  proceeding  by  the  route 
overland.  He  was  to  take  charge  of  the  vessel  we 
laid  up  in  the  fall,  and  I  had  agreed  to  go  his  mate. 
Reached  Boston  the  next  night.  A  heavy  gale  with  a 
regular  northeast  snow  storm  blocked  up  our  doing 
anything  for  a  number  of  days,  but  tried  to  make    our- 


UNCLE  JETHEO    NEXT    GOES    COASTING.  ITl 

selves  as  comfortable  as  possible  at  the  hotel  where  we 
got  entertainment.  As  the  weather  became  settled  and 
the  snow  so  leveled  we  could  get  about,  went  on  board. 
We  took  in  a  cargo  of  new  rum  and  bar  iron,  also  a 
few  passengers,  —  one  lady  and  a  number  of  gentlemen, 
and  started. 

We  got  down  to  Georges  Island ;  the  wind  coming 
out  to  the  Eastward,  and  it  begining  to  snow,  we  came 
to  anchor  under  the  lee  of  the  island.  It  was  a  very- 
tough,  storm.  We  lay  four  or  five  days,  when,  the 
wind  coming  fair,  we  had  a  good  run  as  far  as  Chat- 
ham. I  was  called  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  to 
take  my  watch  the  land  being  not  far  off,  and  we 
heading  for  it.  The  wind  changed  to  the  Eastward 
and  it  commenced  to  snow  again.  I  awakened  the 
captain,  telling  him  he  had  better  come  on  deck. 
Said  he  would,  but  as  he  did  not  thought  best  to  get 
the  bearing  and  distance  of  Chatham  Light.  Soon  after 
it  shut  in.  I  went  below,  found  the  captain  fast  asleep, 
awakened  him  by  giving  him  quite  a  rough  shake,  and 
told  him  he  must  come  on  deck.  He  came  up ;  said 
he,  "  Why  didn't  you  call  me  before  ? "  I  replied, 
that*  half  an  hour  ago  I  did  call  him,  and  he  should 
have  turned  out.  He  said  he  knew  nothing  about  it, 
and  was  now  at  a  loss  to  know  where  we  were.  I 
told  him  how  the  Light  bore  and  the  distance  I 
judged  it  was  away.  He  didn't  appear  more  than 
half  awake,  but  thought  we  had  better  try  to  get  back  j 


118  UNCLE   JETHRO   NEXT    GOES    COASTING. 

didn't  like  to  try  to  cross  the  shoals.  "  No  sir,"  I  re- 
plied, "  I  will  not  consent  to  attempt  returning ;  our 
sails  are  too  poor  for  that,  they  will  not  stand  the  gale, 
and  we  shall  unavoidably  get  on  a  lee  shore,  and  stand 
a  good  chance  to  lose  our  lives.  The  only  chance  is 
to  run  before  the  wind,  get  over  the  shoals ;  we  shall 
fetch- up  somewhere." 

We  put  her  before  it,  ran  awhile,  and  I  went  along 
to  see  if  any  land  was  in  sight  ;  but  instead  of  land, 
discovered  breakers  right  ahead.  The  captain  had  the 
helm,  and  I  went  aft  and  told  him  quietly,  so  as  not 
to  alarm  the  passengers.  I  took  the  helm,  while  he 
went  into  the  rigging  to  see  what  to  make  of  them.  It 
was  still  snowing  thick.  He  had  hardly  got  up 
thirty  feet,  before  she  struck  the  bottom  hard.  Another 
sea  lifted  her,  and  bang  she  went  on  the  bottom.  I 
sang  out  to  him,  "  What  shall  we  do  ? "  Said  he, 
"  We  must  tack  ship."  I  replied  that  she  wouldn't 
stay,  we  must  wear.  I  spoke  to  a  man  standing  near 
the  mast  to  drop  the  peak,  and  clapped  the  helm  hard 
to  port.  The  tide  running  strong  to  the  eastward  slued 
her  around  broadside  to  the  wind  and  sea,  which  set 
her  off  to  the  windward,  of  the  shoal,  Then- trimmed 
the  sails  aft,  kept  her  to  the  windward  half  an  hour, 
and  tacked  ship  in  hopes  of  weathering  the  shoal. 
Directly  it  was  ''breakers  ahead!"  and  on  both  bows 
quite  handy.  Did  not  think  it  possible  to  get  her  -about, 
she  was  so  dull  a  sailor  and  it  was  so  rough.    . 


1 


UXCLE    JETHEO  NEXT  GOES   COASTING.  179 

The  captain  sent  me  aloft  to  look  out  the  smoothest 
place,  for  he  was  going  to  put  her  on.  Seeing  but 
little  difference,  I  told  him  to  hard  up ;  she  struck 
heavj  and  went  over.  She  now  leaked  badly,  and  we 
set  both  pumps  going.  Supposed  it  to  be  Pollock 
Eip,  and  gave  her  the  course  over  the  shoals.  The  wind 
moderating  some  and  hauling  to  the  southward,  it  soon 
stopped  snowing  and  came  in  a  thick  fog.  Passed 
Cape  Pogue  without  knowing  when.  Kept  sounding 
constantly,  and  soon  began  to  shoalen  the  water  very 
fast. 

Sighted  the  shore  and  saw  a  very  large  rock.  By 
this  time  tacked  ship,  stood  off  shore  ;  could  not  make 
out  where  we  were  nor  did  we  know  any  such  rock 
along  the  coast.  Tacked  and  stood  in  for  another  look 
at  it, -but- were  no  better  satisfied  than  before.  Stood 
off  shore  and  ran  awhile,  then  let  the  anchor  go. 
It  soon  began  to  break  away  and  clear  up,  and  behold  ! 
here  we  were  right  off  East  Chop,  and  this  terrible ' 
large  rock  was  no  larger  than  a  hundred  pound  hay  stack; 
but .  in  the  fog  loomed  up  the  size  of  a  meetinghouse. 
The  wind  hauling  to  the  wesward,  got  under  way  and 
ran  into  Edgartown.  Lav  here  a  few  days,  then  started 
again  arrived  safely  in  New   Yoi'k. 

Put  the  carg9  out  took  another  in  for  Boston.  Made 
one  more  voyage  to  Eastport,  Me.  Took  a  cargo  for 
Kichmond,  Va.,  and  a  return  freight  for  Boston,  leaving 
there  light  from  the  scarcity  of    freight.     Took    a  pilot 


180  UNCLE    JETHEO    NEXT    GOES  COASTING. 

for  Eastport ;  had  favorable  winds,  and  got  down  a 
piece  below.  Mt.  Desert ;  wind  struck  out  northeast,  a 
strong  breeze  and  thick  weather.  Our  captain  thought 
best  to  try  to  make  a  harbor.  Soon  made  the  land 
off  the  starboard  bow,  at  a  place  called  Long  Island. 
Sounded  often  and  found  deep  water,  running  under 
easy  sail  in  the  hope  of  finding  a  cove  or  bay  in 
which  to  anchor.  It  seemed  to  light  up  a  little,  and 
a  smoke  ahead  attracted  our  attention.  We  concluded 
somebody  inhabited  there.  It  was  not  far  off;  kept 
sounding,  plenty  of  water,  saw  a  little  passage  way 
between  two  rocks  ran  in,  found  a  nice  little  basin 
and  let  go  our  anchor  in  the  middle,  our  vessel  just 
swinging  clear  of  the  shore  on  all  sides. 

Seeing  a  small  hut,  landed  and  inquired  where  we 
were.  The  old  gent  who  occupied  informed  us  the 
place  was  called  Burnt  Coat,  a  place  familiar  to  Down 
Easters,  When  the  wind  came  fair,  put  out  and  had  a 
good  time  down.  A  plenty  of  vessels  were  in  wait- 
ing for  jdI aster,  taking  it  as  fast  as  it  came  from  up 
river,  and  when  a  vessel  hove  in  sight  the  boats 
would  board  her  and  engage  it.  One  day  saw  a 
schooner  coming  down',  and  I  -jras  instructed  to  go  to 
her.  Did  so  and  engaged  her  cargo.  She  dropped  her 
anchor  near  us,  but  on  the  English  -side,  while  we 
were  lying  on  the  American  side. 

It  was  near  night  and  low  water  ;  the  tide  here  ebbed 
and  flowed  thirty  feet.     He  gave  his  vessel  a  moderate 


UNCLE    JETHEO   NEXT   GOES    COASTING.  181 

scope  of  cable.  I  told  him  to  come  alongside  by  day- 
light the  next  morning.  We  were  around  early,  mak- 
ing preparations  etc.,  but  our  expected  plaster  droger 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen  where  the  previous  night  she 
had  lain,  nor  anywhere  among  the  fleet.  It  was  calm 
the  fore  part "  of  the  day ;  toward  night  saw  a  craft 
coming  in  from  the  seaboard,  which  from  her  having 
no  topmasts,  we  correctly  judged  was  the  missing  ves- 
sel. I  boarded  her  as  she  came  up,  and  learned  that 
during  the  night,  as  the  tide  came  in  her  anchor  was 
tripped,  and  the  wind  blowing  out  to  sea  with  the 
current  setting  the  same  way,  while  they  all  slept 
she  quietly  took  .her  departure,  without  any  legal 
clearance  aud  much  against  the  wish  of  her   crew. 

We  soon  after  took  in  the  bulk  of  the  plaster,  a  num- 
ber of  tons  more  than  we  should  have  done,  which 
brought  the  vessel  very  deep  in  the  water,  two  planks 
of  the  deck  on  each  side  being  submerged  even  in 
smooth  water.  Eight  passengers,  the  families  of  two 
Germans,  came  on  board.  Our  water  for  vessel  use 
was  in  two  large  casks,  lashed  against  the  quarter- 
deck bulkhead,  I  told  the  captain  we  should  have  a 
barrel  filled  and  placed  below,  in  case  of  accident ; 
but  he  insisted  that  it  was  not  necessary,  and  conse- 
quently went  to  sea  without  any  additional.  We  came 
along  very  well  to  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Cod.  It  was 
our  intention  to  land  the  passengers  at  the  Vineyard, 
that  they  might  the    more    readily  procure  passage  for 


182  UNCLE   JETHKO    NEXT  GOES    COASirN-G. 

New  York,  .  Judging  ourselves  between  CajDe  Cod  and 
Nantucket,  it  came  in  thick  with  a  strong  breeze  from 
the  eastward.  The  Pilot  objected  to  run ;  thought  best 
to  heave  to  for  a  while  in  hopes  that  'twould  clear  up. 

It  was  now  about  noon,  and  we  lay  tc5  for  an  hour 
or  more.  The  gale  increased,  and  the  mainsail  was 
close-reefed  after  ^  severe  struggle.  The  sea  would 
fill  up  the  bunt,  and  then  we  would  empty  out,  and 
before  hardly  a  point  was  knotted  it  would  have  to  be 
re^Deated.  Most  of  the  afternoon  was  used  up  before 
it  was  properly  secured.  Got  that  and  the  bob  jib  on 
her,  and  shaped  our  course  for  the  channel.  Did  the 
best  we  could  to  weather  the  shoal ;  the  surf  rolled 
over  the  decks,  and  it  was  not  safe  to  leave  the 
quarter  deck  at  all.  During  the  night  one  of  the  water- 
casks  was  stoven,  and  the  water  left  in  it  was  salted, 
and  soon  after  the  lashings  of  the  other  parted  ;  the 
cask  went  to  sea  and  we  haven't  seen  it  since.  We 
thought  we  had  passed  the  shoal,  but  on  account  of 
the  breakers  on  every  side,  were  unable  to  decide  with 
any  degree  of  certainty.  We  were  glad  to  get  her 
before  the  wind.  Hauled  down  the  reefed  mainsail  and 
furled  it,  also  the  bob  jib  was  taken  in,  and  we  headed 
for  Cape  Henry. 

We  now  felt  the  need  of  fresh  water  ;  thirteen  of  us 
all  told,  and  several  babies  crying  with  thirst  and  none 
to  help  them.  The  wind  was  dead  aft,  and  we  scud 
under  bare  poles.     We  had  but  little  to  eat,  had  made 


UNCLE  JETHRO   NEXT   GOES   COASTING.  183 

a  fire  once  only  ;  boiled  some  meat,  but  it  was  so  salt 
and  our  throats  so  husky,  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
eat  it.  A  sea  struck  the  stern,  stove  the  boat  to 
pieces,  started  in  all  four  dead-lights,  and  set  her  to 
leaking  badly.  By  and  by  noticed  that  the  vessel 
steered  hard,  requiring  the  whole  lee  or  weather  helm 
to  make  her  mind  it.  Looked  over  the  stern  and 
found  half  the  rudder  was  gone.  The  gale  continued 
with  unabated  fury,  and  not  a  drop  of  rain  had  fallen. 
We  knew  we  were  getting  handy  to  the  capes  of 
Virginia,  and  if  the  wind  did  not  fall  off  we  should 
soon  be  on  the  beach. 

The  captain  was  below.  I  went  down  to  get  some- 
thing from  an  under  berth,  and  heard  the  water 
rushing  down  in  a  torrent.  Soon  discovered  that  the 
seam  was  open'  on  deck,  under  the  edge  of  the  bulk- 
head, and  that  the  quarter  deck  was  working  consider- 
ably. With  a  case  knife  lashed  to  a  pole  tried  the 
opening,  and  found  it  was  quite  bad.  Happening  to 
have  a  quantity  of  oakum  on  board,  with  the  point  of 
the  knife-blade  ran  it  the  length  of  the  seam  a  number 
of  courses,  which  the  descending  current  sucked  in ; 
afterwards  pressed  it  in  solid,  stopping  most  of  the 
water  out.  It  had  to  be  done  from  the  quarter 
deck. 

We  were  fearful  that  we  should  have  to  scud  her  on 
shore.  I  went  below  and  told  the  captain  that  we 
must    be  well,  in  as  the  water  had  a  slight  colored  ap- 


184  UNCLE    JETHRO    :N^EXT     GOES    COASTING. 

pearance  ;  that  he  had  better  come  up  and  see  what 
was  to  be  done.  I  told  him  that  in  my  judgment  we 
had  better  heave  to  ;  it  was  too  risky  running  longer. 
This  he  said  he  dared  not  to  undertake,  for  fear  the 
heel  of  the  mast  would  jump  out,  rip  up  the  deck,  and 
we  all  go  to  the  bottom.  It  was  now  the  fourth  day 
since  putting  away,  and  the  wind  had  not  varied  a 
single  point  of  the  compass.  In  the  afternoon  it  began 
to  thunder  and  lighten.  Lit  up  some,  the  wind  and 
sea  going  down  a  trifle.  The  land  was  but  a  short 
distance  to  leeward,  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  north- 
ward of  Cape  Henry.  It  now  moderated,  and  we  hove 
the  vessel  to  under  a  reefed  forestaysail.  Lay  a 
while,  when  the  wind  hauled  to  the  northward,  and 
we  put  away  for  Cape  Henry.  We  soon  saw  a  pilot 
boat  running  in  from  sea-board  ;  he  camfe  up  and  asked 
if  we  wanted  a  pilot.  We  replied  that  we  did,  but 
that  water  was  wanted  more,  for  we  had  been  out 
four  days.  H-e  replied  that  he  had  ten  gallons  only, 
for  it  was  some  days  since  he  had  been  up,  but  we 
should  have  part  of  it.  Our  boat  was  gone,  and  his 
little  skiff  would  not  live  a  moment  in  so  rough  a  sea. 
What  was  to  be  done  ?  As  often  quoted,  ''  Necessity  is 
the  mother  of  invention."  They  took  a  fender  from 
the  pilot  boat,  attached  a  rope  and  threw  it  overboard. 
We  got  our  vessel  dead  to  leeward,  it  drifted  to  us, 
took  the  end  of  the  line  in,  then  a  keg  was  bent  on 
and  we  hauled  it  on  board.  'It  came  in  a  good  time, 
for  we  were  thirsty  enough. 


UNCLE    JETHRO    NEXT    GOES     COASTING.  185 

Not  able  to  weather  the  cape,  came  to  anchor  under 
its  lee,  in  company  with  the  pilot  boat.  The  next  day 
got  under  way  and  attempted  to  beat  up.  Seeing  a 
topsail  schooner  from  Norfolk,  bound  to  Baltimore,  we 
forelaid  to  speak  him  and  set  a  signal  for  him  to  heave 
to.  He  did  so.  We  asked  for  water,  telling  him  we 
were  in  a  suffering  condition  for  the  want  of  it,  and 
asked  if  he  had  any  to  spare.  He  replied  that  he  had, 
and  ordered  our  boat  to  come  after  it.  We  told  him 
we  had  no  boat,  that  he  must  launch  his  yawl  and 
bring  it  to  us.  Said  he,  "  I  cannot  stop  to  bother, 
with  a  fair  wind ;''  squared  his  yards  and  put  her  off 
for  Baltimore. 

Not  long  after  saw  a  little  negro  droger  coming 
down  James  River.  We  spoke  him  and  asked  if  he 
had  plenty  of  fresh  water,  for  we  were  short ;  had  been 
for  some  days.  He  replied,  "  Yaw,  massa ;  me  got 
half  barrel."  We  then  asked  if  he  would  sell  or  give 
us  some  ;  if  so  to  launch  his  log  canoe  and  bring  us  a 
part  of  it.  He  brought  us  all  he  had,  with  his  face 
shining,  and  grinning  with  laughter  at  the  prospect  of 
doing  a  kind  act.  He  said,  ''Here,  massa,  be  all  the 
water  we  hab  ;  take  him,  massa. '^  ''No,  no,''  I  re- 
plied, "we  will  not  take  it  all;  you  will  need  it." 
"No,  massa,  you  take  de  water;  we's  be  up  to  Nor- 
folk fore  night,  but  you  no  be  dar,  —  take  de  whole." 
We  forced  him  to  keep  a  bucket  full,  and  some  broad 
and  meat  were  .  added ;  our    grateful    thoughts  followed 


186  UMCLE     JETHRO    NEXT     GOES    COASTING. 

the  generous  souled  colored  man,  as  he  left  us  in  the 
enjoyment  of  his  gift.  Now,  let  me  ask,  which  of  the 
two  men  showed  the  most  of  a  civilized  nature  ?  The 
old  darke;5»had  a  black  face,  but  his  heart  was,  we 
thought,  far  whiter  than  the  pale  face  brute  who  didn't 
like  to  bother. 

The  next  day  reached  Norfolk.  Purchased  a  new 
boat,  and  employed  the  services  of  a  calker  and  car- 
penter who  repaired  damages.  When  the  calker  began 
his  job,  he  asked  what  fool  had  been  at  work  on  the 
seam.  Hearing  this,  a  little  sprung,  I  hastily  replied, 
"You  poor  devil,  had  you  been  on  board  when  that 
job  was  done  you  would  have  thought  your  last  day 
had  come  ;  on  my  knees,  from  the  quarter  deck  that 
seam  was  calked,  three  feet  under  water.''  His  views 
were  suddenly  changed ;  said  that  being  the  case,  it 
was  well  done.  From  there  we  went  to  Richmond, 
discharged  our  cargo  which  weighed  one  hundred  and 
nineteen  tons,  while  the  vessel  only  measured  seventy- 
five,  and  returned  light  to  New  York,  when  a  freight 
was  loaded  for  Boston. 

This  was  the  last  trip  I  made  in  that  craft.  From 
her  I  joined  a  neat  and  pretty  schooner,  called  the  Gen. 
Greene,  under  my  old  captain,  who  would  always  have 
me  if  good  wages  could  secure  me  ;  for  he  appeared 
to  think  full  as  well  of  me  in  these  days  as  when  we 
were  peddling  fish  and  clams  in  Connecticut,  during  my 
early  apprenticeship.     We    advertised    for    freight   and 


UNCLE     JETHRO     NEXT     GOES     COASTING.  181 

passengers  for  New  York.  In  a  few  days  were  loaded 
aj^d  made  a  safe  passage.  Took  freight  back  again, 
and  afterwards  made  several  trips  to  Philadelphia, 
Charlestown  and  Savannah,  continuing  in  a  general 
coastwise  business  about  three  years. 

On  one  of  these  trips  we  left  New  York,  bound  to 
Philadelphia,  with  a  fresh  breeze  from  .the  north  west. 
Ran  along  to  the  southward  with  the  land  in  sight, 
came  down  within  twenty  or  thirty  miles  of  Cape  Ann 
and  hove  her  to,  heading  off  shore,  thinkin-g  we  might 
be  handy  to  the  Cape  by  daylight.  At  twelve  o'clock 
at  night  went  on  deck  to  take  my  watch.  Had  only 
been  on  a  short  time,  when  a  pilot  boat  was  observed 
working  towards  us.  This  I  reported  to  the  captain, 
and  asked  if  I  should  take  a  pilot.  He  replied  that  it 
would  be  best.  The  boat  soon  came  up,  and  the  pilot 
hailed  to  know  where  we  were  bound  and  if  a  pilot 
was  wanted.  Told  him  yes;  he  came  on  board,  gave 
the  course  for  Cape  May  and  ordered  sail  made  upon 
the  vessel,  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  where  we  were, 
and  he  replied  that  he  knew  pretty  near,  but  had  not 
seen  the  land  for  a  number  of  days.  I  told  him  that 
at  dark  we  judged  ourselves  such  a  distance  (naming 
the  number  of  miles),  from  the  cape,  and  thought  it'" 
most  proper  not  to  increase  the  sail  for  fear  of  getting 
to  far  to  leeward,  without  being  able  to  see  the  land. 
He  said  that  he  knew  his  business. 

From    running    under    a    foresail    only,    hoisted    the 


188  UN^CLE    JETHEO    XEXT     GOES    COASTING. 

mainsail  and  set  the  jib.  She  was  going  a  good  lick. 
The  captain  remained  below  until  his  watch  expired. 
I  told  the  pilot  that  it  was  my  humble  opinion  he  was 
making  trouble  for  all  hands ;  but  he  was  not  to  be 
convinced  till  daylight  dawned,  when  from  aloft  I  saw 
we  had  left  Cape  May  many  miles  to  the  windward  of 
us,  and  informed  him  of  the  interesting  fact.  We  had 
to  double  reef  fore  and  aft,  hauled  sharp  on  the  wind, 
and  beat  the  livelong  day.  Just  at  night  got  so  that, 
with  a  favoring  breeze,  we  were  enabled  to  run  up. 
This  bit  of  experience  only  served  to  strengthen  my 
convictions,  that  some  pilots  didn't  know  any  more 
than  they  should. 

While  in  this  craft  had  frequent  opportunities  of  vis- 
iting home.  The  suits  referred  to  were  progressing 
slowly,  being  carried  from  one  court  to  another,  but  I 
managed  to  keep  clear  up  to  the  present  time;  believ- 
ing .that  in  general  a  great  deal  more  of  law  is  practiced 
than  justice,  which  was  perfectly  demonstrated  before 
these  pending  cases  were  settled,  previous  to  which 
settlement  I  was  pressed  as  a  witness  in  -a  trial  insti- 
tuted against  Mr.  Coffin  by  the  captain  of  our  old 
ship.  I  was  put  upon  the  stand.  Upon  being  ques- 
tioned, told  the  counsel  it  was  but  little  I  knew  of  the 
affair,  and  very  much  disliked  to  tell  that.  .  Being  ask- 
ed if  I  thought  Mr.  Coffin  went  ashore  of  his  own 
accord,  replied  that  I  thought  he  did  not;  that  he 
was  ordered    to  take  his  things  and    leave,  under  pen- 


UNCLE    JETHRO    NEXT    GOES   COASTING.  189 

alty  of  being  forced  to  by  a  file  of  soldiers,  while  Mr. 
C.  protested  his  helplessness,  in  a  foreign  country 
without  money.  The  attorney  than  asked  if  Mr.  CoflSn 
was  really  desirous  of  continuing  the  voyage.  I  re- 
plied that  was  my  opinion.  Was  then  asked  if  Mr. 
C.  was  a  good  officer,  who,  knowing  his  duty,  per- 
formed it,  etc.,  to  all  of  which  I  was  obliged  to  answer 
in  the  affirmative,  as  also  many  other  questions  which 
were  replied  to  with  regard  to  truth,  but  in  as  few 
words  calculated  to  injure  the  feelings  of  any  as  I 
could  place  them. 

There  were  men  who,  in  giving  their  evidence,  did 
so  with  a  view  to  promotion  ;  this  I  did  not  care  for, 
as  I  had  no  axe  to  grind,  no  hobby  horse  to  ride. 
My  whaling  was  done  ;  but  not  so  with  some  others, 
and  it  was  somewhat  amusing  to  hear  the  individuals, 
who  had  been  almost  starved  at  times  on  the  voyage, 
express  so  fully  the  great  respect  they  entertained  for 
their  old  captain,  on  account  of  his  uniform  kindness 
and  the  generou.s  quantity  and  quality  of  provisions  he 
had  always'  furnished.  The  consequence  was,  our 
evidence  didn't  exactly  correspond.  During  the  cross- 
questioning  I  was  asked  if  what  I  said  in  regard  to 
Mr.  C.'s  unwillingness  to  be  discharged  was  correct, 
and  if  I  had  heard  him  express  himself  willing  to  per- 
form the  voyage.  In  reply,  I  claimed  to  be  correct,  but 
had  not  heard  him  say  it  in  so  many  words.  Now  the 
spectators    thought  I  had    a  foul    anchor,    sure.      Was 


190  UNCLE    JETHEO   NEXT    GOES    COASTING. 

asked,  if  I  never  heard  him  say  so,  how  did  I  kno.w 
what  his  wishes  were  ?  "  Sir,  we  often  hear  quoted 
''Silence  gives  consent;"  if,  then,  he  was  not  willing 
to  go  the  voyage,  why  did  he  object  to  leaving  ?''  At 
this  reply  a  laugh  ran  around  the  court  room,  and  I 
was    excused   from    testifying  further. 

The  case  was  soon  after  thrown  out  of  court,  and 
though  much  money  had  been  expended,  none  but  the 
lawyers  received  the  benefit  of  it. 

As  the  period  was  near  at  hand,  anticipated  in  my 
boyish  fancies,  in  being  the  possessor  of  a  snug  and 
comfortable  house  of  my  own,  I  determined  to  make  a 
purchase,  having  previously  secured  a  lot  pleasantly 
situated  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  village.  The 
building  which  I  thought  would  suit  our  wishes  was 
but  partially  completed,  and  it  having  been  attached 
for  debts  and  offered  for  sale  I  applied  to  the  agent, 
and  was  told  that  it  could  be  bought  for  two  hundred 
dollars.  I  considered  it  too  much,  as  the  building 
would  have  to  be  removed,  and  to  complete  it  would 
lequire  additional  expense.  I  offered  one  hundred  and 
forty,  which  was  refused.  I  had  let  forty  dollars  to  a 
friend  of  mine  ;  called  upon  him,  informed  him  of  my 
intention  to  buy,  and  that  the  money  would  be  needed 
in  case  I  did.  Finally  engaged  him  to  go  to  the 
parties  who  had  attached  the  property,  and  make  the 
purchase  of  them  ;  which  he  very  kindly  did,  buying 
it  for  only  one  hundred  dollars,  the  residue  of  which  I 
paid  him. 


U]!5"CLE    JETHEO     NEXT  GOES    COASTING.  191 

Shortly  after,  meeting  the  agent,  he  informed  me 
that  I  had  lost  a  cllance  of  buying  a  good  building 
cheap.  Told  me  it  had  been  bought,  and  such  a  time 
was  allowed  for  removing  it,  I  told  him  it  was  all 
right,  that  my  lot  was  all  ready  for  it  to  be  placed 
upon  it.  "  What !  '^  said  he,  "  was  it  bought  for  you  ?'' 
I  replied  that  it  was.  "  Well,  you  have  got  it  pretty 
slick  after  all.'' 

A  few  days  after,  it  was'  placed  on  the  lot.  I  then 
shipped  on  board  the  sloop  Five  Sisters,  Thomas  Milton 
commander,  to  enter  the  lumber  business.  Our  vessel 
lay  on  the  south  side  of  Town  Wharf;  a  ship  was  at 
the  end,  heading  to  the  southwest.  The  wind  was 
from  the  southward  and  westward,  and  we  were  getting 
under  way  to  leave  port.  "The  captain  ordered  the 
mainsail,  which  was  quite  new  to  be  hoisted.  We  up 
with  it,  headed  northwest,  I  asked  if  he  intended  get- 
ting under  way  as  she  lay.  He  said  yes  "  Well," 
said  I,  "  if  you  do  you  will  cut  a  caper.  "  Why  ?  '' 
said  he.  I  replied  that  we  should  be  afoul  of  the  ship 
and  tear  our  sail  ;  tliat  we  had  better  run  out  the 
kedge  and  pull  by,  as  the  tide  was  setting  down.  He 
said  no,  and  ordered  the  jib  hoisted  and  our  bows 
shoved  off  with  a  pole.  The  current  swept  us  across 
the  ship's  bows,  and  the  jibboom  and  .all  the  rigging 
went  through  the  mainsail,  splitting  it  into  quarters. 
We  ran  out  an  anchor  (which  appeared  very  much  like 
locking  the  cellar  door  after  the  meat  barrels  had  been 


192  UXCLE    JETHEO  K'EXT  GOES    COASTING. 

emptied),    and    after    some    heaving .  cleared    from  the 
snarl,  up  jib,  and  headed  out  of  the  harbor. 

Had  a  strong,  fair  wind,  and  soon  went  to  work 
repairing  the  torn  sail.  We  happened  to  have  plenty 
of  needles  and  twine,  but  only  one  palm.  By  the  time 
we  got  down  to  Chatham  it  was  ready  to  hoist,  and 
iavorable  winds  soon  carried  us  down  to  Gooseborough', 
Me.  Ran  up  to  the  mouth  of  a  river  and  let  the 
anchor  go.  The  captain  was  going  on  shore  ;  said  he 
shouldn't  trouble  the  vessel  much,  as  he  had  trading 
to  do,  and  that  when  the  cargo  was  taken  in  to  put 
on  all  the  help  needed;  to  live  well, — ^^if  it  was  not 
on  the  vessel,  to  buy  it.  He  was  to  inform  me  when 
the  lumber  was  procured  for  the   cargo. 

It  was  my  intention  to  buy  what  was  required  to 
complete  my  house,  which,  at  the  going  rate,  would 
be  taken  by  freight  with  our  load.  I  went  to  the  mill 
to  make  a  raft ;  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  pro- 
prietor, and  finding  he  was  a  great  lover  of  sea  yarns, 
often  endeavored  to  entertain  him.  Two  men  .assisted 
me  in  rafting  the  lumber.  One  day  the  lumber  broker 
said  tu  me.  "  Come  here  ;  I  want  you  to  give  me 
some  of  your  good  stories."  I  told  him  it  was  too- 
busy  times",  I  must  get  the  raft  completed.  Said  he, 
"  Never  mind  your  working,  I  will  turn  on  a  man  to 
do  the  work.''  So  seated  myself  and  commenced  to 
do  his  bidding,  and  kept  it  up  till  the  raft  was  finished. 

Took  the  raft    down   river    and    loaded  it,  and   in   a 


UNCLE    JETHRO    NEXT    GOES    COASTIXG.  193 

day  or  two  went  after  another.  I  bought  some  for 
my  own  use  and  made  a  small  rait  of  it.  "  Nov," 
said  he,  "while  my  men  work  for  you  I  want  some 
more  stories."  I  told  him  that  I  had  bought  a  house, 
that  the  lumber  marked  for  myself  was  to  put  into  it  ; 
'•'  But  said  I,  "  I  see  you  have  any  quantity  of  refuse 
lumber  piled  around.  T  want  you  to  give  some  of  it 
to  me,  for  the  coarse  finishing  up  about  the  premises." 
lie  replied  that  I  could  have  as  much  as  I  desired, 
and  ordered  one  of  his  men  to  get  it  out  for  sending 
down  with  my  raft.  I  was  telling  him  big  stories  all 
the  while,  when,  looking  up  perceived  a  large'  pile 
had  collected  under  the  industry  of  his  man,  and  told 
him  to  hold  on.  Said  he,  "  You  have  not  enough  yet ; 
you  are  welcome  to  all  you  will  take  "  The  pile  was 
iticreased,  when  I  told  him  again  to  stop,  for  my  con- 
science would  not  allow  me  to  'take  all  there  was  ki 
the  yard.  After  getting  home,  found  that  I  had  enough 
and  some  left,  beside  a  pig-sty  and  other  outbuildings. 
The  mainsail  was  repaired  in  good  shape  and  rebent, 
when  we  made  a  start  for  Gooseborough  again,  under 
charge  of  Mr.  A.  a  gentbman  who  was  to  accompany 
us  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  lumber  for  a  salt  works. 
We  had  the  wind  southwest.  Had  passed'  Chatham.  I 
had  the  helm,  trying  to  keep  along  as  straight  as  pos- 
sible, bat  it  was  a  hard  craft  to  steer.  Half  a  mile 
ahead  of  us  was  a  fishing  pinkey  at  anchor,  and  the 
captain  proposed  running  as  near  as  he  could,  in  order 


194  UNCLE    JETHEO    NEXT    GOES    COASTIXG. 

to  get  a  fish,  I  told  him  he  had  better  take  the  helm 
himself,  but  said  he,  "Do  as  I  bid  you  and  it  will  be 
all  right."  The  captain  stood  forward  with  a  junk 
of  salt  pork  in  his  hand  ready  to  throw  to  the- 
fisherman.  As  he  got  handy,  hailed  the  only  man  on 
deck,  the  others  being  at  dinner,  to  throw  a  codfish 
on  board.  Getting  too  near,  the  captain  .sung  out, 
"Hard  to  port."  The  fish  struck  on  deck,  and  about 
the  same  time  our  vessel  struck  the  pinkey  aft,  taking 
off  all  her  quarter-boards,  unhung  the  main  boom,  and 
completely  stripped  her  as  we  passed  along.  By  this 
the  crew  were  out  of  the  forecastle,  and  not  a  little 
cursing  and  swearing  was  indulged  in  till  we  were  out 
of  the  reach  of  their  voices.  As  we  never  met  after- 
wards, the  .bill  of  damages  has  not  been  presented  ;  but 
I  thought  it  a  foolish  experiment  and  should  not  have 
been  attempted,  for  we  had  no  business  so  near  her. 
But  accidents  will  happen  in  the  best  regulated  fami- 
lies. 

It  was  so  rugged  the  quality  of  the  fish  was  not 
tested  on  that  day.  We  had  for  a  passenger  old 
Parson  Thaxter,  whom  we  were  to  land  a<-  Boston  on 
his  way  to  Jlingham.  Just  previous  to  our  arrival,  the 
boy  who  did  the  cooking  on  board  was  getting  break- 
fast earl}^  in  the  morning.  The  parson  was  out,  comb- 
ing his  white  locks  preparatory  to  landing,  and  by 
some  means  threw  a  loose  one  into  the  frying-pan, 
where  the  boy  had  his  pork  in  ^slices    frying.     It  was 


ITN-CLE    JETHEO    XEXT    GOES    COASTING.  195 

not  observed  by  him,  and  the  fish  was  accordingly 
cooked  and  breakfast  announced.  Mr.  A  rev  and  the 
captain  were  seated  on  one  side  of  the  table,  and 
myself  opposite.  I  noticed  something  in  the  platter 
did  not  exactly  "  look  like  lard,  or  even  fish,'"  but^'said 
nothing.  The  captain  assisted  Mr.  A.  to  a  good  piece 
and  asked  me  if  I  would  have  some,  I  replied  that  as 
my  appetite  was  poor,  I  should  have  to  decline.  He 
helped  himself  and  then  gave  another  piece  to  Mr.  A. 
they  thought  it  very  nice.  Presently,  in  attempting 
to  get  a  little  more,  the  captain  hauled  out  the  lock 
of  the  old  parson's  hair,  he  having  a  short  time  before 
left  the  vessel.  He  looked  at  it  and  asked  what  it 
was.  I  replied  that  it  had  the  appearance  of  hair. 
*'  Well,"  said  he,  "it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  your 
appetite  failed,  if  you  had  seen  it,"  and  they  both 
began  to  feel  rather  qualmish  in  the  region  of  their 
bread-baskets.  Said  he,  "  Why  didn't  you  tell  us  ?  "  I 
replied  that  I  didn't  wish  for  them  to  loose  a  good 
breakfast,  or  have  the  boy  punished ;  so  in  the  hope 
that  it  would  pass  off  unnoticed,  kept  still. 

We  continued  our  voyage  down  East,  loaded  quickly, 
and  returned  homeward.  Had  thick  southerly  weather 
for  a  number  of  days  ;  sometimes  laying  our  course, 
at  others  making  much  lee  way,  and  somtimes  running 
to  leward  of  her  course.  The  vessel  loaded  by  the 
head  the  cabin  filled  with  laths  and  shingles.  We  did 
not  see  the    sun    for    the    passage.     One    day  while  at 


196  TJXCLE   JETHEO   NTEXT    GOES    COASTING. 

dinner,  Mr.  Arey. asked  the  captain  where  he  calcu- 
lated to  fall  in.  He  told  him  the  Highlands  of  Cape 
Cod  would  be  sight  at  three  o'clock.  I  couldn't  help 
laughing,  our  calculations  differed  so  widely. 

Mr.  Arey  asked  why  I  laughed,  and  my  reasons 
were  given.  Began  to  sound  about  one  o'clock,  still 
thick  ;  kept  sounding,  but  got  no  bottom  with  the  scope 
of  line  we  used.  Kept  running  with  a  good  lookout 
It  was  now  three  o'clock,  no  land  in  sight,  a^:d  not 
any  soundings.  Capt.  Milton  said  he  had  been 
mistaken,  an4  asked  what  my  reckonings  were.  I  told 
him  at  six  o'clock  we  should  be  up  to  Cape  Ann.  At 
five  o'clock  thought  I  would  go  aloft  and  take  a  sur- 
vey, having  often  observed  that  objects  may  be  dis- 
cerned over  the  top  of  fog-banks.  Had  but  reached 
the  cross-trees  and  looked  away  to  the  northward,  when 
I  saw  the  laud  under  our  lee  beam.  At  first  said 
nothing,  to  assure  myself  what  it  was,  and  tracking  the 
land  made  it  to  be  Cape  Ann.  I  then  informed  them 
that  Cape  Ann  was  off  our  lee  beam.  The  captain 
said  it  must  be  the  highlands  of  Cape  Cod.  "Then,'' 
said  I,  "it  has  undergone  a  strange  revolution,  for  - 
instead  of  running  north  and  south  it  runs  east  and 
west."  The  fog  soon  lifting,  it  was  soon  settled  that 
my  calculations  were  correct. 

A  fleet  of  lumbermen  and  wood-carriers  soon  appeared,  ^ 
as  the  fog  drifted  off  to  leward.  They  were  light  and  I 
bounded  to    Maine    from    Boston,  which    fully  decided  | 


XJNCLE    JETHEO  NEXT    GOES   COASTING.  197 

that  we  were  still  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Ann,  or 
these  vessels  would  not  have  been  in  their  present 
position.  The  next  day  reached  the  Cape,  and  the  day 
following  arrived  at  home. 

Made  one  more  trip  in  this  vessel ;  during  my 
absence  had  carpenters  at  work  completing  my  house. 
We  returned  safely  from  the  last  cruise,  though  we 
had  a  rough  time.  We  lost  both  anchors,  and  met 
with  some  trifling  incidents,  but  nothing  worthy  of 
note.  But  before  I  leave  this  stage  of  my  narrative, 
let  me  remark  that  our  captain  was  a  noble-hearted 
man,  generous  to  a  fault,  and  the  best  man  to  victual 
a  crew  I  ever  sailed  with.  He  was  one  of  those  very 
sanguine  men  who, 

'*  If  convinced  against  his  -will 
Would  be  of  the  same  opinion  still." 


CHAPTER    XX. 

A    SXAKE    IX    THE    GRASS. 

'HE  workmen  employed  upon  my  house  had  pro- 
gressed so  well  that  we  were  enabled  to  move  in 
the  first  of  November,  where,  in  the  society  of  my 
family  I  remained  till  late  in  the  spring.  The  first 
fruit  of  our  union  was  a  boy,  with  whom  we  were  con- 
siderably elated. 

During  the  previous  Winter,  a  brig  was  cast  ashore  to 
the  southward  of  Gay  Head  light.  The  cargo  was 
taken  out,  and  the  vessel  stripped  of  her  spars  and  rig- 
ging to  her  lower  mast,  and  abandoned.  A  severe  gale 
.  occuring  soon  after,  she  was  driven  up  high  and  dry  at 
low  water  and  sold  at  auction,  Thomas  Mayhew  of 
Edgartown,  and  Capt.  Seth  Daggett  of  Holmes'  Hole 
being  the  purchasers.  These  gentlemen  agreed  with 
ten  or  twelve  persons  from  the  former  village  to  get 
her  off.  I  was  one  of  the  number.  Everything  requi- 
site was  conveyed  by  water,  and  on  the  shore  we  con- 
structed a  rude  cloth  shanty ;  in  dry  weather  it  an- 
swered very  well,  but  in  rainy  times,  it  was  rather 
leaky. 

Among  our  party  we  had  a  lad  about  fourteen  years 
of  age,  who  served  us    as    steward,  and    a    real    smart 

198 


A    SXAKE    IX    THE    GRASS.  199 

little  fellow  he  was,  full  of  life  and  fun,  always  ready 
to  answer  to  the  call  when  Theodore  was  wanted  He 
was  a  son  of  Robert  Winpenny  ;  in  disposition  cheerful 
and  somewhat  given  to  singing  ;  though  usually  harp- 
ing on  the  same  tune  and  words,  which  made  so  deep 
an  impression  on  my  own  mind  they  still  are  fresh  in 
memory.  For  the  edification  of  any  of  you  who  are 
fond  of  choice  selections,  I  will  repeat  this  little  bal- 
lad ; 

"  Down  by  the  Taunton  river, 
AVhere  the  herrings  sport  and  play, 
You  be  home  you  Yankee  lubber, 
You  be  home  by  Christmas  day." 

Our  young  steward  had  some  distance  to  go  after 
water,  procuring  it  from  a  spring  in  the  edge  of  a 
swamp.  One  day  he  went  out ;  had  nearly  gained  the 
spring  when  he  was  brought  to  a  halt  by  a  very  sing- 
ular noise.  Listening  very  attentively  for  a  moment, 
he  proceeded  with  cautious  footsteps  in  the  direction 
from  which  the  sound  came.  On  approaching  quite 
near  the  spring,  saw  a  hideous-looking  black  snake  in 
the  act  of  bringing  its  charms  to  bear  upon  a  helpless 
robin  immediately  in  front  of  him.  The  reptile  was 
whipping  his  tail  through  the  air,  producing  a  noise 
very  much  resembling  a  spinning-wheel ;  (  young  folks 
can  ask  their  mothers  what  that  instrument  is.) 

The  eye  of  the  snake  was  fastened  upon  his  intended 
prey,  and  the  bird  trembling  and  fluttering  seemed  per- 
fectly under  the    control    of   his    magnetic    power.       I 


200  A    SNAKE    IN    THE    GRASS. 

think  the  charmer  must  have  been  a  full-blooded  me- 
dium. But  Theodore  dispatched  the  snake  and  delivered 
the  bird  from  his  dangerous  enemy.  The  boy  was 
taught  a  lesson  which,  through  years  of  eventful  life  gave 
him  a  very  decided  aversion  to  snakes  in  the  grass, 
either  of  the  brute  or  human  species.  Snakes  were 
abundant  in  this  region  of  country,  frequently  paying 
us  visits,  which,  was  very  annoying,  particularly  after 
we  had  retired. 

The  wreck  was  found  bedded  in  the  sand,  nearly  up 
to  her  chain-bolts.  Screws  were  placed  under,  first 
digging  for  solid  foundations  on  which  to  rest  them. 
After  awhile  raised  and  blocked  her  up.  She  was  very 
heavy-timbered,  and  two  hundred  tons  burthen.  Final- 
ly were  ready  to  lay  the  ways,  but  awaiting  a  favorable 
time  to  launch  on*  account  of  the  rugged  shore,  just 
such  a  day  being  absolutely  necessary.  The  next  night 
it  came  on  to  blow,  and  the  morning  revealed  to  us 
the  interesting  fact  that  our  work  must  be  done  over 
again,  as  the  blocking  had  been  undermined,  and  the 
vessel  in  the  condition  in  which  we  found  her  weeks 
before. 

After  many  days  of  hard  dragging,  supposed  her  all 
regular  again.  The  gale  arose  and  the  swell  swept  up 
the  shore  in  its  vengeance,  and  down  she  went  the  sec- 
ond time.  As  before,  she  was  again  raised,  and  now 
we  really  thought  she  soon  would  be  floating.  In  place 
of  the  short  timber  used  amidship    heretofore,  we    now 


A    SXAKE    IN   THE    GRASS.  201 

introduced  her  rudder  which  was  very  large  and  strong, 
and  we  felt  quite  secure.  But  this,  too,  was  destined 
to  be  a  failure  ;  a  strong  westerly  gale  destroyed  all 
our  carefully  arranged  plans,  and  the  thiid  time  our 
work  was  vain  and  fruitless.  We  pretty  much  conclu- 
ded that  she  would  lay  her  bones  there  forever,  but 
Mr.  Mayhew  thought  different.  As  he  had  already 
expended  much  money  he  was  determined  to  get  her 
off,  if  it  took  all  the  vessel  was  worth  to  accomplish 
it.  A  hard  rain  set  in  about  this  time  and  our  shanty 
leaked  like  a  seive.  All  hands  concluded  we  would 
endeavor  to  procure  lodgings  in  the  barn  owned  by  Mr. 
Skiff,  the  light-keeper  at  that  time.  Unfortunately  for 
us,  one  of  our  number  was  a  colored  man,  but  a  good 
old  soul  as  ever  lived.  Upon  application  for  the  barn 
for  lodgings,  Mr.  Skiff  flatly  refused,  because  he  was 
with  us;  squealing  out,  "  If  that  darned  nigger  should 
sleep  on  that  'ere  hay,  my  old  boss  would  snuff  and 
snort  and  wouldn't  touch  a  mouthful  of  it."  So  we 
returned  to  our  old  quarters,  consoling  ourselves  with 
the  reflection  that  we  didn't  love  him  any  better  than 
he  did  negroes. 

Our  rudder,  that  we  had  so  much  depended  upon  as 
a  support  for  the  vessel  was  reported  the  next  morn- 
ing, a  part  lying  on  the  rocks  at  Squibnocket  light, 
and  the  balance  on  the  north  side  of  Gay  Head,  at  a 
place  called  Cooper's  Landing.  With  a  boat  one  was 
brought  back,  and  the  other    was    brought    overland  by 


202  A    SNAKE    IX    THE    GRASS. 

an  ox-team.  This  done,  a  part  of  the  company  went  to 
work  to  raise  the  vessel  again,  and  two  or  three  sent 
to  town  with  the  boat  after  provisions 

As  the  season  advanced,  the  weather  became  more 
settled,  work  progressed  finely  and  at  last  we  were  ready 
to  lay  the  ways.  The  rudder  was  spliced  and  hung, 
some  little  arrangements  were  made  in  the  way  of  sails 
when  we  should  require  them,  and  then  a  successful 
launch  was  made.  Keeping  account  of  all  the  distance 
she  had  at  different  times  been  raised  it  amounted  in 
the  aggregate  to  twenty-one  feet.  The  Summer  was 
now  drawing  to  a  close,  our  job  was  nearly  completed 
and  no  accident  had  .occured  to  any  of  us.  But  not 
so  with  those  who  were  at  work  in  the  clay  pits  near 
by,  and  a  little  to  the  northward.  Thinking  .that  per- 
haps my  services  may  some  day  be  required,  the  inci- 
dent may  as  well  be  cited. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  natives  were  grubbing  out  the 
clay  for  shipment,  when  one  in  the  act  of  striking  a 
heavy  blow  with  the  instrument  used  for  that  purpose, 
accidentally  fetched  it  down  upon  the  shoulder  of  a 
squaw,  making  her  yell  with  pain.  She  soon  made 
rapid  strides  for  the  house.  While  others  were  in  search 
of  a  horse  to  send  to  Edgartown  for  the  well-known 
bone-setter,  Jeremiah  Pease,  Esq.,  I  went  to  the  house. 
I  asked  if  the  shoulder  was  broken  ;  she  thought  it 
was,  as  the  fingers  were  stiff,  and  her  arm  could  not  be 
lifted.     I  asked  if  I  could    examine  her  arm.       "  0  yes, 


A    SXAKE    IN    THE    GRASS.  203 

dearasuz."  I  gently  crowded  the  part  most  injured, 
and  in  went  the  fractured  bone  with  a  snap.  "  Now," 
said  I*' raise  your  arm."  She  did  so  without  trouble 
and  I  was  pronounced  a  skillful  surgeon.  This  was  my 
first  experience,  but  I  did  not  tell  them  so.  Have  had 
no  practice  since. 

The  vessel  was  now  at  the  end  of  the  ways  but  still 
not  floating.  We  had  carried  out  anchors  to  haul  out 
by,  and  had  made  some  arrangements  for  putting  on 
sail  when  necessary.  Hove  the  anchor  up  and  made 
sail,  and  in  two  days  reached  the  harbor,  the  vessel 
leaking  freely.  She  was  fitted  up  slightly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  taken  to  Portland  in  hopes  of  selling  her 
to  her  former  owners.  Discharged  all  the  men  with 
the  exception  of  three  beside  myself,  who,  with  the 
owners  were  to  proceed  in  the  vessel.  We  reached 
Cape  Cod,  took  a  head  wind  and  ran  into  Province- 
town,  where,  being  taken  sick  and  each  day  growing 
worse,  I  took  passage  in  a  western-bound  lobster  vessel 
toward  home.  Was  landed  on  Cape  Pogue,  and  brought 
to  town  by  the  kindness  of  the  light-keeper.  Did  not 
feel  very  well  for  some  time,  but  finally  recovered  and 
was  just  as  good  at  new.  It  being  now  well  towards 
Fall;  remained  about  home  till  Spring  opened. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

UNCLE   JETHEO   IX   COililAXD    OF    THE   FAIR   LADY. 

ARLY  in'  March  took  the  fishing  smack  Fair  Lady 
for  a  season's  work  off  the  south  side  of  Nan. 
tucket  Island.  A  neighbor  of  mine  who  was 
familiar  with  the  cruising  ground  accompanied  me. 
Our  craft  was  a  clever  little  vessel,  only  eleven  tons 
burthen,  cedar  bottom,  built  slinker  fashion,  or,  better 
understood,  lap-streak.  She  was  decked  over  ten  feet 
forward,  which  served  as  a  cabin,  having  two  berths 
below,  with  a  small  fireplace  for  cooking  the  grub. 
Was  not  very  high  in  the  posts,  for  if  we  occupied  a 
seat  six  inches  high,  our  heads  would  come  in  contact 
with  the  deck  above. 

On  our  first  cruise  out,  was  rather  fearful  of  her 
abilities,  not  being  full-decked,  and  it  being  an  un^ 
usually  rough  place,  but  soon  found  she  was  to  be 
trusted..  She  was  a  very  able  boat  on  top  of  the  seas, 
seldom  shipping  more  than  a  bucketful  of  water,  how- 
ever rough  it  was.  Cod  and  halibut  were  very  plenty 
and  we  considered  ourselves  No.  I  fishermen,  usually 
filling  our  well  in  a  single  day.  The  fish  were  carried 
to     New    Bedford,    always    finding     a     ready    market. 

204 


UNCLE    JETHRO    IN    COMlfAND    OF    THE    FAIR    LADY.  205 

Would  procure  bait  at  home  and  go  out  again. 
We  wound  up  the  business  the  last  of  June,  having 
made  more  money  for  the  length  of  time  than  ever 
before  or  since. 

Worked  at  home  when  anything  offered  until  May 
of  the  following  year.  Was  not  much  driven  with 
business,  and  consequently  took  life  quite  easy  for  a 
while. 

Capt.  Lot  Norton,  about  this  time,  was  bound  to  tiie 
coast  of  Labrador  fishing  ;  I  shipped  with  him,  made 
the  voyage  and  returned,  being  gone  about  four  months, 
that  length  of  time  being  the  shortest  to  entitle  those 
who  fitted  her  to  the  U.  S.  bounty.  We  all  hove  to- 
gether and  made-  a  good  season's  work.  Capt.  Norton 
was  a  pious  old  man,  and  many  a  good  ^meeting  we 
had  on  board  the  Bethel  fisherman,  frequently  receiving 
visitors  from  other  vessels  to  our  Sunday  services. 
Our  fish  were  disposed  of  to  vessels  bound  up  the 
Mediterranean,  and  we  returned  in  ballast.  I  told 
Capt.  N.  if  nothing  prevented  I  would  go  with  him 
next  season. 

Some  time  in  the  latter  part  of  the  next  March, 
Capt.  E.  Ripley  had  charge  of  a  coaster ;  was  coming 
from  New  York.  It  was  a  dark,  thick,  foggy  night, 
and  by  some  mistake  in  his  reckonings  he  ran  his 
craft  on  a  ledge  of  rocks  to  the  northward  of  Gay 
Ilead,  called  "The  Devil's  Bridge.'^  She  struck  seve- 
ral times  but    beat  over    and    sank    in  five  fathoms  of 


206         UNCLE    JETHRO    IN    COMMAND    OF    THE    FAIR    LADY. 

water.  The  crew  took  to  the  boat  and  landed  at  Tar- 
paulin Cove.  With'  others  whom  he  employed,  I  went 
to  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  and,  if  you  ^like,  I  will 
give  you  a  little  account  of  our  expedition. 


The  Wreck. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A   WEECKING   EXPEDITION    TO    THE    DEVIl's   BRIDGE. 

^IIE  cargo  of  the  wreck  was  composed  of  baled 
W  cotton,  copper  sheets,  (for  ship  bottoms)  in  boxes, 
a  quantity  of  corn  in  bulk,  and  cotton  cloth.  We 
first  secured  two  vessels,  in  which  the  necessary  equip- 
inents  for  raising  were  taken,  with  the  party  who  were 
to  assist.  Two  long  spars  and  chain  cables  and  a 
dozen  men  accompanied  these  vessels. 

Found  upon  our  arrival  only  the  mastheads  above 
water.  Placed  one  chain  under  forward,  the  other 
under  aft,  with  a  vessel  on  each  side  of  the  sunken 
one.  Lashed  the  spars  across  the  decks  of  the  three, 
took  a  turn  of  the  chain  around  the  spars,  put  a  large 
oak  heaver  on  to  turn  the  spars,  making  what  sailors 
call  a  Spanish  windlass.  Hove  a  heavy  strain  at  dead 
low  water.  The  tide  began  to  rise,  and  we  hoped  that 
by  full  sea  she  would  be  lifted  clear  of  the  rocks ;  if 
so,  we  intended  to  get  her  in 'a  little  nearer  shore  and 
repeat  the  experiment. 

As  the  tide  came  in,  she  did  not  appear  to  come  up 
at  all.  Found  that  one  of  our  vessels  was  too  small  to 
take  her   part  of  the    strain,  and  was    gradually  being 

207 


brought  under  as  fast  as  the  tide  arose.  We  held  on 
until  her  deck  was  under,  and  were  obliged  to  slack 
up  and  take  the  small  one  out.  We  went  to  Nantucket, 
hired  a  larger  craft,  and  rigged  as  before.  It  was 
now  quite  rugged,  and  the  current  was  quite  strong, 
so  waited  until  it  became  smoother  and  hove  down 
again.  Before  high  water  gave  us  a  chance  to  test  our 
new  arrangement  it  came  on  to  blow-  hard  from  the 
westward,  parted  the  cables,  and  very  gladly  we  left 
her  to  lie  a  while  longer.  Dispatched  a  vessel  to  New 
Bedford,  procured  a  ship's  cable,  and  in  a  suitable 
time  rigged  again,  not  willing  to  give  up  beat.  Hove 
down  once  more,  getting  every  inch  that  was  possible 
at  low  water.  At  about  full  sea  she  began  to  move. 
Sail  was  made  on  the  vessels,  with  a  fair  tide  headed 
to  the  northward:  took  her  clear  of  the  rocks  and 
headed  down  Vineyard  Sound.  After  a  few  hours 
reached  Lambert's  Cove,  and  the  tide  coming  in  ahead 
anchored. 

The  wind  coming  up  strong  from  the  westward,  hove 
in  a  terrible  sea.  We  chafed  and  ground  so  badly, 
had  to  slack  up  and  let  h^  sink  to  the  bottom. 
Shortly  after,  hove  her  up  again,  bringing  her  tafrail 
and  knightheads  above  water,  and  started  with  her  for 
Edgartown.  Arrived  all  right  and  unloaded  the  damaged 
cargo.  The  owners  made  us  an  offer  for  saving  the 
property,  but  not  being  satisfactory,  we  sent  a  respon- 
sible man  to  Boston,  who  libelled  the  vessel  and  cargo. 


A    WRECKING    EXPEDITION   TO    THE   DEVIl's    BRIDGE        209 

It  went  into  Court  in  due  time,  and  after  a  while  a 
settlement  was  made,  the  lawyers  as  usual,  taking  the 
lion's  share.  The  expenses  of  litigation  being  adjusted 
we  made  one  dollar  and  twelve  cents  per  day. 

From  the  action  of  the  copper  upon  the  corn,  it  was 
supposed  that  it  might  be  poisoned.  One  of  our  citi- 
zens, somewhat  interested  in  the  purchase  of  the  corn, 
wishing  to  test  it  in  this  respect,  did  so  in  rather  a 
queer  way.  He  had  in  his  family  a  Kanaka,  who  ac- 
companied him  to  this  country  on  his  last  voyage  at 
sea.  He  concluded  that  he  would  have  a  quantity  of 
the  corn  boiled  and  fed  out  to  the  native  on  trial, 
saying  that  if  it  did  not  produce  his  death  it  would 
be  safe  to  feed  his  hogs  upon  it.  It  was  tried,  and  no 
visible  injury  resulting,  the  corn  fetched  at  auction 
twelve  cents  per  bushel. 

The  town  presented  the  appearance  of  one  grand 
general  washing  day,  most  every  fence  about  being 
used  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  cotton  cloth  to  dry. 
Thus  ended  my  first  experience  in  the  wrecking  busi- 
ness. Quite  soon  after,  however,  had  a  plenty  of  it 
to  do. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A   WEST   INDIAMAN    ON    THE    SOUTH   BEACH. 

<^^T  had  now  got  to  be  so  late  in  the  season,  gave 
W  up  my  previous  intention  of  another  Labrador 
voyage.  Early  one  morning  it  was  noised  around 
town  that  a  large  topsail  schooner  was  high  and  dry  on 
the  south  end  of  the  Island.  Soon  learned  that  she 
was  from  the  West  Indies,  loaded  with  rum  and  mo- 
lasses,—  a  very  inviting  cargo  to  those  fond  of  the 
"  critter.''  She  was  not  bilged  ;  the  cargo  was  all 
removed,  and  with  a  strong  wind  on  shore  she  was 
cast  above  low  water  mark.  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew 
contracted  with  her  owners  to  get  her  off  for  a  cer- 
tain amount.  He  hired  eight  or  ten  with  myself  to 
assist  on  the  job.  In  a  small  craft  he  owned  we  took 
all  the  apparatus  required  and  began  work  on  her. 
The  beach  being  high,  did  not  raise  her  much  Laid 
our  ways  to  launch,  but  made  a  failure  the  first  time. 
As  the  weather  was  rather  catchy,  it  getting  along 
towards  Fall,  it  took  a  number  of  days  waiting  for  a 
good  chance  to  operate.  At  last  launched  her  into 
the  surf,  but  she  did  not  float.  Had  an  anchor  out 
some  distance  from  the  shore.  Now  it  began  to  blow 
^  210 


k    WEST    INDIAMAN    ON    THE     SOUTH    BEACH.  211 

and  snow.  Sail  was  made  on  her.  Had  just  hoisted 
the  mainsail  when  the  sheet  parted,  the  boom  struck 
the  shroud,  broke  it  in  two  pieces,  also  tore  the  sail. 
Took  in  the  broken  boom  and  sail  on  deck.  As  the 
combers  rolled  in,  her  bows  would  jump,  but  still  she 
hung  by  the  stern.  As  the  tide  arose  we  hove  at  the 
windlass,  and  just  at  night  she  started.  Dropped  the 
sails,  hove  up  the  anchor,  ran  from  the  shore  a  short 
distance^  and  let  three  anchors  go.  We  were  not 
anxious  to  drag  out  to  sea,  as  we  had  neither  wator 
nor  provisions  in  the  vessel. 

The  wind  canted  to  the  northward  and  a  very  cold 
night  set  in.  As  the  chimney  had  previously  been 
caved  in,  we  could  have  no  fire,  and  take  it  altogether 
it  looked  rather  dismal  for  comfort.  By  and  by,  the 
wind  changing  to  the  westward,  got  underway  and 
reached  the  harbor  of  E.  the  next  day. 

Very  soon  after,  there  was  a  smack  called  the  Look- 
out, cast  ashore  in  very  nearly  the  same  spot  as  the 
one  just  launched.  No  one  was  on  board  and  her  crew 
were  supposed  to  be  lost.  T.  Mayhew  bought  her,  and 
I  went  with  him  to  assist  in  getting  her  off,  and  also 
brought  her  to  town.  Mr,  Mayhew  used  to  take  many 
such  jobs ;  he  was  a  remarkable  man  for  ingenious 
inventions  in  this  line,  and  always  extremely  unwilling 
to  abandon  a  job  once  undertaken.  Would  hang  until 
his  efforts  were  crowned  with  success.  I  frequently 
afterwards    accompanied     him    during    his    excursions, 


212         A    WEST    INDIAilAN    OX    THE    SOUTH    BEACH. 

dragging  for  lost  anchors,  which  at  that  period  was 
quite  a  lucrative  occupation.  On  one  occasion  with  two 
vessels,  one  called  the  Surprise,  under  my  charge,  and 
the  Lookout,  on  board  of  which  was  Mr.  Mayhew, 
were  on  the  south  side  of  the  Vineyard,  where  we  had 
been  sweeping  for  cables.  Suddenly  it  shut  in  a  dense 
fog,  both  vessels  being  at  that  time  under  sail.  Soon 
it  was  impossible  to  discern  the  other  craft.  My  part- 
ner said,  "  What  are  we  now  to  do  ?  ^'  I  replied  that 
I  should  take  the  vessel  into  the  harbor.  "  Well,'' 
said  he,  "  you  will  have  to  do  it  for  all  my  help,  for 
I  don't  know  the  first  thing  in  such  a  fog."  I  told 
him  to  hunt  up  aline  suitable  for  sounding.  He  found 
only  a  small  scup  line  with  its  sinker,  weighing  less 
than  a  quarter  of  a  pound.  Among  so  many  shoals 
and  reefs,  with  the  current  setting  from  two  and  half 
to  three  knots,  it  was  but  a  poor  substitute  for  a  deep 
sea  lead. 

We  kept  along  to  the  north-east,  hauled  up  to  the 
northward,  and  with  the  intention  of  giving  Cape 
Pogue  a  wide  berth,  ran  for  some  time,  till  satisfied  I 
could  fetch  by.  Let  her  come  in  stays,  heading  for, 
as  I  calculated,  the  Gurnet,  or  Eel  Pond  opening.  My 
partner  asked  "  Where  are  you  now  ?  "  I  replied  that 
if  he  would  heave  the  lead  as  I  lufi'ed  up,  I  would  tell 
him.  Soon  judged  where  we  were,  and  as  we  shoaled 
the  water  upon  the  opposite  shore,  told  him  to  keep  a 
sharp  lookout.     As  yet  nothing  but  fog  could  be   seen. 


A    -WEST    INDIAMAN   OX    THE    SOUTH    BEACH.  213 

He  asked  me  again  where  we  would  fetch  up.  I  then 
said  to  him,  "  Soon  we  will  drop  the  anchor,  and  to- 
morrow morning  when  the  fog  has  cleared  we  shall  be 
lying  between  the  shores  of  Cliappaquiddic  and  Collec- 
tor Norton's  house,  and  Mayhew's  vessel  will  be  to 
the  northward  of  us,  on  her  beam  ends  on  the  flats 
at  low  water.  Sure  enough  next  morning,  when  I 
went  on  deck,  I  saw  it  just  as  I  had  imagined. 
Called  up  my  "  pard,"  and  said  "What  do  you  see  ? '^ 
With  great  surprise  he  said,  ''  It  is  just  as  you  pre- 
dicted ;  you  would  out-devil  the  old  fellow  himself  for 
Si  pilot  in  a  foggy  time.'^  I  thought  it  would  not  have 
so   happened  again  in  a  thousand  years. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

UNCLE    JETHRO      MAKES     A     HAEBOR     AT     PORT      SANDERS      AND 
FORMS    THE    ACQUAINTANCE    OF    A    WANDERING    TRIBE. 

fN  the  first  of  May  started  on  a  voyage  to  Labra- 
dor with  my  old  friend  Capt.  Lot  Norton.  We 
made  a  harbor  at  a  place  called  Port  Sanders, 
Newfoundland.  There  had  been  a  snow-storm,  and  it 
still  lay  upon  the  ground  two  feet  deep.  It  was  now 
raining  some,  but  cleared  off  in  the  afternoon,  and  from 
the  woods  a  little  inland,  saw  a  smoke  arising.  Know- 
ing this  part  of  the  country  to  be  uninhabited  for  many 
miles  around,  our  curiosity  was  a  little  aroused  to  find 
the  meaning  of  it.  Our  boat  was  launched  and  paddled 
toward  the  shore.  When  we  landed,  and  as  we 
approached  the  fire,  saw  a  large  Dutch  blanket  hanging 
from  the  trees,  and  upon  near  approach  found  it  used 
as  a  protection  from  wind  and  rain,  for  the  comfort 
of  fourteen  men,  women  and  children  who  were  stretched 
on  the  ground  under  its  lee.  The  snow  had  been 
scraped  away  and  bows  from  the  trees  were  spread 
for  a  bed,  on  which,  feet  to  the  fire,  this  singular 
looking  group  were  very  contentedly  enjoying  them- 
selves.    Upon    accosting    them,  found    that   they  could 

214 


FORMS    THE    ACQUAINTANCE    OF    A    WANDERING    TRIBE.     215 

speak  our  language.  We  asked  an  old  white-headed 
veteran  if  there  was  not  danger  of  taking  cold.  He 
replied,  ''  If  our  feet  are  kept  warm  there  is  no  danger 
to  be  apprehended.'^  They  were  the  members  of  a 
single  family  who  were  moving,  as  frequently  they  did, 
from  one  harbor  to  another,  picking  up  wTiat  game  came 
in  their  way,  and  living  from  year  to  year  in  the  same 
manner,  not  owning  any  house  and  having  no  regular 
abiding  place. 

Among  them  I  noticed  a  little  fellow,  peeping  over 
his  protector's  shoulder  to  get  a  look  at  us  as  we 
talked,  and  asking  her  who  appeared  to  be  his  mamma 
if  I  couldn't  have  him  to  take  home  with  me,  he 
burst  into  tears  and  opened  his  mouth  so  that  I  surely 
thought  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  of  his  head  was 
coming  off,  —  and  ours  too,  as  he  loudly  yelled.  We 
asked  how  they  got  along  with  the  very  aged  ones, 
who  did  not  appear  able  to  do  much  travelling,  and 
were  told  that  they  were  carried  by  the  younger  ones 
on  their  backs.  The  only  articles  of  property  we 
could  see  consisted  of  the  blanket,  two  old  guns,  a 
copper  kettle  and  a  small  quarter  of  what  appeared  to 
be  beef.  It  was  what  they  called  caribou  of  the  deer 
family. 

We  asked  the  old  gent  if  he  would  sell  us  a  part 
of  it,  and  he  said  we  were  welcome  to  the  whole  of  it. 
We  told  him  that  would  not  do ;  they  must  keep 
some    of   it    for    supper    and    breakfast.      He    replied, 


216      UNCLE  JETHRO  MAKES    A    HARBOR  AT  PORT   SANDERS  AND 

''never  mind  us;, we  have  good  guns  and  know  how 
to  use  them."  A  part  was  taken  and  found  to  be 
very  nice.  The  old  man  was  asked  to  accompany  us 
on  board,  and  we  would  pay  for  it.  He  was  helped 
to  the  boat,  and  a  little  something  was  given  him  to 
drink,  which  pleased  him.  Also  gave  him  bread,  molas- 
ses, and  a  backet  of  Indian  meal  ;  he  had  never  seen 
any  meal  before,  and  was  told  how  to  prepare  it  for 
eating.  As  he  was  about  to  leave  gave  him  another 
drink.  "  Now,'^  said  he,  "  I  suppose  my  squaw  would 
like  a  small  drink  ;  "  so  we  filled  a  bottle  and  told  him 
to  give  a  little  all  round.  We  did  not  land  again, 
but  three  years  after  we  put  into  the  westward,  three 
hundred  miles  distant,  at  a  place  called  Cod  Bay  ;  a 
boat  came  to  us,  in  which  were  two  squaws,  one  of 
whom,  addressing  myself,  asked  for  meal.  I  asked  her 
what  she  knew  about  meal,  she  replied,  "  You  once 
gave  me  some ;  I  remember  you  very  well,  sir."  They 
had  baskets  for  sale,  of  their  own  make,  which  she 
insisted  upon  my  buying.  She  said,  "Have  you  chil- 
dren ?  "  I  informed  her  I  had  three  when  I  left  home. 
"  Well,"  said  she,  *'  you  must  have  three  baskets,  and 
in  return  I  will  take  meal."  We  had  plenty  and  the 
trade  was  made.  She  eyed  me  closely,  and,  observing 
it,  I  asked  her  where  she  ever  saw  me  before.  She 
told  me  she  was  one  of  the  party  at  Port  Sanders,  &c. 
Our  voyage  was  continued,  and  we  reached  the  usual 
fishing  grounds.     I  had  heard  some  of  our  crew  speak 


FORMS   THE    ACQUAINTANCE    OF    A    WANDERING    TRIBE.     217 

of  a  certain  individual  as  being  there  in  command  of 
a  vessel,  with  v^hom  I  once  sailed.'  One  day,  in 
approaching  our  vessel  as  I  was  coming  in  from  boat 
fishing,  saw  him  on  the  deck  of  our  craft,  and  informed 
the  man  with  me  of  it.  He  said  he  was  so  far  ,oflf, 
could  not  tell  him  ;  I  replied  that  I  should  know  his 
ashes  after  he  was  burned.  All  hands  were  in  the 
cabin.  Our  boat  was  secured,  and  my  partner  had 
followed  the  others  down.  The  visitor  had  shaken 
hands  with  those  whom  he  knew,  when  my  partner 
told  him  there  was  another  coming  who  knew  him. 
He  looked  at  me  as  I  started  into  the  cabin,  and  asked 
me  if  I  knew  him.  Said  I,  "  Yes,  sir  ;  to  my  sorrow," 
He  asked  where  I  had  ever  seen  him,  and  I  told  of  a 
certain  voyage  we  made  together.  Our  captain  agreed 
to  ],et  him  have  our  fish,  his  business  being  to  purchase, 
and  to  Brader  Basin  we  went  to  deliver  them.  We 
had  a  remarkably  handsome  lot,  as  we  thought,  but  as 
we  passed  them  on  board  the  other  vessel,  the  captain, 
standing  at  the  scales,  discarded  many  as  poor.  I 
was  on  his  deck  helping  to  pile  up  the  scales,  and 
handled  them  rather  faster  than  suited  him,  and  he 
asked  to  have  me  removed  and  another  sent  to  take 
my  place.  Our  captain  asked  his  reasons  for  the 
exchange.  I  came  back  to  my  own  vessel,  but  did 
not  like  the  idea  of  his  sending  back  so  many  fish.  Directl- 
ly  a  very  large  one  that ;  on  account  of  a  hole  cu  tin  its 
nape,  he  refused  to    take,  was    returned    and,  with  the 


218     UNCLE  JETHRO    MAKES   A  HAEBOR   AT   PORT   SANDERS   AND 

other  refused  was  kentched  below  by  itself.  •  Along 
towards  noon  a  boat  landed  alongside  our  craft,  and 
two  ladies  got  out  who  were  going  to  pay  a  visit  to 
the  captain  of  the  brig  alongside  pf  us.  Consequently 
he  .was  obliged  to  leave  the  work  of  weighing,  to  enter- 
tain them  in  his  cabin,  but  asked  another  captain  who 
was  on  board  to  attend  to  the  scales  in  his  absence. 
Told  him  to  take  no  fish  but  what  were  good.  Seeing 
so  fine  an  opportunity,  I  told  the  boys  to  keep  a  good 
look  out  and  let  me  know  if  the  captain  of  the  brig 
came  on  deck.  ■  I  jumped  into  the  hold,  and  while 
others  passed  up  the  fish  as  they  had  been  doing,  I 
went  to  the  pile  of  castaways  and  passed  them  out  at 
fast  as  I  could.  Worked  some  time,  when  the  repors 
was  made  of  the  uprising  of  the  man  I  did  not  just 
then  care  to  see,  for  on  the  top  of  the  scales  was  that 
identical  large  fish,  fair  in  sight !  He  came  directly 
to  the  scales,  took  the  fish  up  and  hailed  me,  saying, 
"  Did  I  not  send  this  fish  back  once  ? ''  I  answered 
that  he  did.  "  Well,''  said  he,  "  you  have  been  send- 
ing up  the  refuse  fish,  have  you  not  ?  "  Told  him  I 
had,  and  if  he  had  not  come  just  as  he  did  they  would 
have  been  all  stowed  in  his  hold,  as  it  was  a  few  only 
were  left.  He  looked  at  me  pretty  hard,  when  I 
returned  the  look  and  told  him  that  I  rather  thought 
now  he  knew  me.  He  then  told  the  captain  of  our 
vessel  that  if  "that  Eipley''  was  allowed  in  the  hold 
again,  he    would    take    no    more   fish.     The  rest  of  the 


FOEMS    THE  ACQUAINTANCE    OF    A   WANDERING    TRIBE.    219 

cargo  was  delivered,  and  drafts  were  signed  by  him 
upon  his  owners.  We  started  for  home,  arrived  some- 
time in  September,  remained  about  one  month,  and 
then  took  a  trip  to  a  warmer  clime. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

A  CRUISE  TO  THE  SUNNY  SOUTH. 

fHE  first  of  October,  shipped  on  board  sloop  Hero, 
aud  went  to  Boston  to  take  in  an  assorted  cargo 
for  Charleston,  S.  C.  Usually  when  goods  came 
aboard,  the  question  was  asked,  if  we  were  going  direct 
to  sea  or  intended  making  a  stop  at  Edgartown  or  else- 
where We  always  told  .them,  if  we  had  freight  to 
be  delivered,  should  stop.  A  boy  used  sometimes 
to  come  with  goods  for  shipment ;  the  captain  would 
sign  the  bills  of  lading,  and  no  questions  were  asked 
in  relation  to  our  stopping. 

We  completed  taking  in  cargo  and  started  for  E. 
The  most  valuable  portion  of  the  cargo  was  insured, 
without  any  specifications  in  legard  to  stoppages  on 
our  passage.  We  came  up  to  Cape  Pogue  and  fell  in 
with  Sch.  Eliza  Jane,  Capt.  V.  Pease  commanding, 
bound  to  Philadelphia  with  a  number  of  passengers  on 
board.  He  was  a  driver  and  sailed  his  vessel  on 
shares,  and,  as  the  sayiug  is,  allowed  no  grass  to  grow 
on  his  vessel's  bottom  by  lying  around.  We  had  just 
tide  enough  to  weather  Cape   Pogue    and   get  into  the 

220 


A    CRUISE    TO     THE     SXJNNT    SOUTH.  221 

harbor  of  E.  Ran  in,  and  in  less  than  two  hours  had 
landed  what  freight  we  had  to  deliver,  and  were  ready 
for  a  start.  The  wind  holding  ahead,  thought  it 
advisable  not  to  attempt  to  get  out ;  were  delayed  a 
number  of  days,  waiting  for  a  suitable  time.  One  after- 
noon the  wind  died  out,  and  Capt.  P.  got  under  way 
and  worked  up  to  Tarpauline  Cove.  We  still  remained 
Next  morning  took  a  light  breeze  and  started.  The 
wind  was  south-east  ;  and  occasionaly  it  would  blow  a 
little  harder,  then  calm  down  again.  So  we  worked 
along  the  best  we  could.  We  got  nearly  abreast  tlie 
cove,  when  the  breeze  struck  across  the  sound,  anci 
the  fleet  lying  there  took  their  anchors,  set  sail  and 
came  out.  Soon  discovered  the  Eliza  Jane  in  the 
crowd ;  was  within  a  mile  of  her,  and  went  out  on 
the  same  tide  with  her,  the  captain  recognizing  us  as 
as  well  we  did  him.  Before  dark  passed  Nomans  Land, 
and  before  twelve  o'clock  were  put  to  skudding  under 
the  head  of  a  square  sail,  and  wind  enough  at  that. 
The  gale  lasted  all  the  next  day,  and  hauled  from  the 
north-east  a  little  to  the  southward,  still  blowing  a  living 
gale  and  finally  changing  to  the  south-east.  Were 
compelled  to  heave  to  under  a  storm  trysail,  on  the 
port  tack,  headed  to  the  westward.  Kept  her  so  for 
five  days  and  nights,  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  we  loaded 
very  deep.  The  wind  started  a  few  points  more  to  the 
southward.  My  watch  below  until  twelve  o'clock  was 
then  called.     As    the    captain  was  about  to   repair   to 


222  A    CKUISE    TO    THE    STTN^^    SOUTH. 

the    cabin,  I    asked    him    if  it  would    not    be  well    to 
wear    ship  ;  told    him  if  I  had  charge  should  certainly 
do    so,  for  we    had  been    on  the  same  tack    five    days 
and   nightS;  and   might  have    overrun   our  calculations. 
He  insisted  there  was    no    necessity    for  it,  as   neither 
sand,  rocks  nor  shoals  endangered  us,  and  went  below. 
In  my  watch   was    a    Swede,  as    good    a    fellow   when 
awake    as    ever   was,  but    one    of  these    drowsy    indi- 
viduals who  could  not  stay  anywhere  without  dropping 
asleep.     I  stood  abaft  the  binnacle,  watching  by  compass 
the    course    the   vessel  was   making.     At    first   the    sea 
was  tumbling  in    amidships  over  the    main    deck ;  had 
been  watching    but  a    few  moments    when    I  observed 
that    the    sea    rolled    along     more    quartering.      Again 
scanned  the    compass    to  see  if    her    course    had    been 
altered,  but  found  her  still  heading    as   last  seen.     The 
conclusion  I  hastily  formed  was  that  we  had  gone  into 
shoal  water.     I  took  the  lead,  gave  it  a  cast,  and  found 
less    than    three    fathom.   .Clapping    the    helm    in    the 
weather    bucket,     grabbed    the    Swede    and    sent    him 
forward    fast    enough    to    be    certain    he    was    awake, 
ordered  the  trysail  halliards  let  go,  and  called  all  hands. 
Up  came  the  captain,  who    wanted    to  know  what    the 
matter  was.     I  told    him    there    was    matter    enough ; 
''we  are  going  on  shore,  sir  !  "  Said  he  1     "  How  much;, 
water    have    you  ? '^     I    replied,    "Three    fathom,    sir; 
some  help  here    as    quick    as    possible ;    let's    get  the 
trysail  to  leeward  of  the  halliards.^'     We  got  the  clew 


A    CKUISE    TO    THE    SUXNY    SOUTH.  223 

around,  got  the  sheet  partly  aft,  hoisted  it  up  and 
trimmed  flat,  "Now,  sir,''  said  I,  "we  will  try  the 
lead."  Did  so,  and  found  a  quarter  less  there.  lie 
was  perfectly  astonished.  Now  the  old  swell  gave  it 
to  us  right  in  the  face  and  eyes  ;  it  was  neck  or 
nothing,  but  we  deepened  the  waters  lowly.  Put  a  reefed 
jib  on  her  and  gained  a  little,  carrying  it  until  ten  the 
next  morning,  when  it  blew  so  heavy  that  we  had  to 
furl  it,  keeping  her  dead  to  leeward  the  while.  Sounded 
and  found  fifteen  fathoms.  Let  her  lie,  catching  it  just 
as  she  could.  We  suppose  the  shoal  to  be  Barnegat. 
The  wind  going  down  and  hauling,  to  the  westward, 
made  sail  and  shaped  our  course  for  Cape  Hatteras. 
Got  pretty  well  up  with  the  cape,  and  another  easterly 
gale  came  on.  She  was^  put  under  close  sail  again, 
three  reefs  in  the  main  sail  and  reefed  jib.  Finding 
we  could  not  weather  Hatteras,  wore  ship  stood  north- 
ward, and  in  the  forenoon  thought  best  to  go  into 
Hampton  Roads.  We  bore  >  away  for  Cape  Henry  and 
ran  in  by,  the  wind  slanting  to  the  southward  a  point 
or  two.  The  captain  had  the  helm.  Ran  in  by  the 
right  and  went  into  Lynn  Haven  Bay,-  just  to  the  south 
of  Cape  Henry.  I  said  that  I  hoped  he  was  not  going 
to  anchor  up  there.  He  said  he  was  :  he  did  not  like 
to  run  a  dozen  miles  out  of  his  way  when  he  was 
ready  to  start  again.  I  told  him  we  had  plenty  of 
time,  and  a  safe  anchorage  was  of  a  great  deal  more 
consequence  than  a  few  miles.     He  said  when  the  wind 


224  A    CEUISE    TO     THE     SU2fXT     SOUTH. 

came  fair  we  should  have  less  distance  to  run.  I  told 
him  no  time  would  be  lost  by  keeping  up ;  if  be 
anchored  here  he  would  find  his  mistake  before  morn- 
ing dawned.  We  came  to  anchor  there  it  was  now 
quite  late  in  the  afternoon ;  the  captain  went  below  and 
turned  in.  Our  sails  were  reefed  sea-fashion,  not  very 
snwg.  I  told  the  men  we  would  shake  out  the  reefs 
and-  put  them  in  better  shape,  and  everything  was  put 
in  good  order  for  what  soldiers  would  call,  a  stampede  ; 
for  I  felt  it  in  my  bones  such  would  be  the  case  before 
long.  I  told  the  Swede  to  take  the  first  watch,  think- 
ing he  would  be  most  likely  to  keep  awake  the 
earlier  part  of  the  night.  Told  bim  to  keep  watch 
of  the  weather  and  the  other  man  who  was  to  relieve 
him  was  told  the  same.  Intending  to  stand  the  last 
watch  myself  I  went  below  and  turned  in  all  standing, 
except  my  boots  and  hat.  Had  been  below  about  an 
hour  when  the  Swede  came  down  and  hurridly  in; 
formed   me   that  a  gale   was   blowing    on   shore. 

When  I  first  awoke,  thought  perhaps  he  had  been 
asleep,  and  the  wind  had  changed  without  his  knowl- 
edge. She  was  heading  nearly  west,  and  it  was 
blowing  violently  with  her  lee  rail  most  under  water 
She  had  not  yet  swung  to  her  anchor,  so  *I  knew 
the  wind  had  iust  come  round,  as  the  Swede  said. 
It  was  instantaneous.  She  headed  it  soon ;  all  hands 
were  called.  As  the  breakers  were  right  under  our 
lee,    hove    ahead   on   the   cable.     Hove  short,   up   with 


A   CRUISE    TO    THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  225 

the  reefed  mainsail,  and  took  the  anchor.  She  was 
pitching  her  bow-s  under;  fell  off  to  the  westward. 
We  up  jib  and  put  her  to  it,  heading  to  the  north- 
west on  the  starboard  tack.  It  was  so  rough,  she 
made  but  little  headway.  I  seated  myself  to  the 
leeward  of  the  rudder  head,  and  perceived  that  she 
was  gaining  toward  the  shore.  I  told  the  captain 
she  would  hardly  fetch  by  the  point. '  He  said  it 
was  impossible  to  tack,  and  two  wear  ship  were  just 
as  bad ;  the  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  trust  luck 
and  keep  her  running,  thinking  possibly  she  might 
go  clear.  We  had  got  to  the  very  turn,  and  if 
there  had  been  half  a  cable's  length  to  spare  it 
would  have  been  all  right ;  but  as  she  settled  into 
the  hollow  of  a  sea,  she  struck  hard,  another  sea 
lifted  her,  and  down  she  would  go  again.  Let  the  sails 
run  and  dropped  the  anchor,  in  the  hope  that  she  was 
over  the  worse  bar  and  would  hold  on.  A  decent  scope 
of  cable  was  payed  out,  by  which  she  was  held ;  still, 
every  time  she  went  down,  bang !  she  would  strike. 
The  captain  stood  holding  on  by  the  main  rigging. 
1  asked  him  if  h"e  intended  to  let  her  knock  her  bot- 
tom out  there,  to  which  he  replied  that  he  didn't  know 
what  was  to  be  done.  I  told  him  I  did.  "  Then," 
replied  he,  "do  it  as  quick  as  you  can."  I  ordered 
the  boys  forward  to  slip  the  cable,  set  the  jib,  and 
and  haul  the  sheet  flat  aft  amidships.  She  slued 
around  and  headed  for  the  shore  ;  a    heavy   sea    struck 


226  A   CEUISE    TO    THE    SUN]!^?    SOUTH. 

her  sterii;  forging  her  ahead  some  distance,  and  another 
kept  her  her  going  inshore.  The  jib  would  not  allow 
her  to  broach  to,  and  headlong  she  fetched  up,  hard 
and  fast  on  the  beach. 

The  first  heavy  sea  after  grounding  stove  in  one  of 
the  deadlights  near  my  berth.  I  grabbed  my  well- 
stufied  canvass  mattress,  on  deck  with  it,  doubled  it 
up,  secured  a  rope  to  it,  then  ordered  one  of  the  hands 
to  pass  it  over  the  stern  ;  from  the  dead  light  window 
I  caught  it,  then  it  was  tompled  over  and  I  hauled  it 
up  to  the  window,  and  fitting  tightly,  as  long  as  it 
lasted  it  kept  the  water  from  dashing  in.  It  was  foi 
awhile  the  tightest  deadlight  we  had.  The  other  beds 
were  also  prepared  in  the  same  manner,  in  case  of 
further  emergency.  The  first  gave  out  before  long  and 
was  replaced  by  another,  and  as  often  as  they  failed 
us  another  was  used,  until  there  was  none  left.  Then 
used  for  the  same  purpose  an  old  sky  sail.  We  had 
not  bilged,  and  we  thouglit  we  were  doing  very  well, 
but  just  then  a  tremendous  sea  came  and  the  three 
other  dead  lights  all  went  in  at  once.  Had  only  time 
to  get  our  chest  and  dunnage  on  deck,  before  the  cabin 
filled  with  water.  They  were  placed  forward  of  the 
■windlass.  The  sea  was  breaking  from  stem  to  stern. 
It  was  now  midnight.  When  we  ran  on  the  tide  was. 
up  ;  it  had  now  begun  to  ebb,'  and  we  were  some  little 
distance  from  the  shore,  the  shoal  water  extending  out 
pretty  well.     In 'the  morning  judged  it  to  be  low  water, 


A   CRUISE    TO    THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  227 

and  preparations  for  landing  were  being  made.  Our 
small  boat  would  not  live  a  moment  in  so  heavy  a  sea, 
but  we  soon  began  to  cut  and  contrive.  We  had  a 
large  spar  on  deck  we  sometimes  used  for  a  fender 
alongside.  To  this  we  bent  on  a  rope  and  threw  it 
overboard,  the  sea  washing  it  up  until  it  grounded 
before,  on  shore.  With  the  end  of  the  rope  in  m.y  hand, 
went  out  on  the  end  of  the,  bowspriet,  and  carefully 
making  it  fast  a  little  slack,  I  dropped  down  to  the 
water,  and  as  a  good  sized  sea  swept  along  allowed 
myself  to  be  carried  with  it,  the  rope  rendering 
through  my  hands.  The  rest  of  the  crew  landed  in 
the   same   manner. 

It  was  now  somewhat  cold,  being  the  sixteenth  of 
October.  Anxious  to  find  some  place  of  refuge,  went 
in  search  of  a  house.  A  large  pond  lay  between  us 
and  the  upland,  and  following  around  to  westward, 
we  struck  a  road  which  conducted  us  up  to  a  dwel- 
ling. We  went  in  and  found  it  occupied  by  an  old 
bachelor  who  was  a  planter,  and  owned  quite  a  drave 
of  animals  which  at  that  time  were  called  "  slaves.^' 
We  were  welcomed.  A  large  fire  was  going  up  the 
old  fashioned  chimney,  composed  of  logs  six  feet  long 
and  large  in  proportion,  but  we  did  *uot  complain. 
The  old  gent  wanted  to  know  where  we  came  from 
and  all  the  particulars  of  our  shipwreck,  but  was 
told  after  we  had  procured  something  to  eat  and  a 
little   sleep,  would   tell   him    all   about  it.     He  said  we 


228  A    CEUISE    TO    THE    SUNNTT    SOUTH. 

must  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  possible,  and 
soon  breakfast  would  be  ready.  As  we  became  thawed 
out,  with  one  accord  a  drowsiness  crept  over  us,  and 
before  a  greatwhile  we  all  slumbered  and  slept  He 
aroused  us,  and  we  sat  down  to  a  nice  warm  break- 
fast of  hoe-cakes,  fried  bacon  and  coffee,  prepared  by 
the  negro  servants.  We  enjoyed  our  meal  hugely,  and 
afterwards,  by  permission  of  our  host,  went  to  bed. 
While  regaling  ourselves  with  the  sleep  so  much  needed, 
the  negroes  dried  our  clothing  in  good  shape. 

The  gale  continued,  with  unabated  fury  for  a  number 
of  days,  but  as  it  moderated  we  began  to  think  about 
changing  our  boarding  place.  Soon  after,  with  the 
help  of  the  slaves,  unbent  the  sails,  took  them  on 
shore,  and  constructed  a  tent  Saved  the  cargo  and 
stored  it  in  the  tent.  We  tore  down  a  small  wooden 
fish-house  near  the  shore,  and  with  the  boards  closed 
up  the  dead  lights,  and  -went  to  work  pumping  out 
the  water,  which  was  soon  accomplished.  As  it  was 
now  thought  best  to  carry  an  anchor  out,  and  our  boat 
was  not  near  large  enough,  we  went  six  miles  up  to 
the  eastward,  to  a  river  where  was  kept  a  large  sein- 
iug  boat.  We  started  with  her  toward  the  vessel,  but 
before  getting  back  the  wind  prevented  us  from  carry- 
ing out  oiir  intention.  Were  compelled  to  land  and 
haul  the  boat  up  for  safety.  Returned  on  foot  to  the 
wreck,  and  fuund  it  nearly  floating,  but  as  the  waves 
hove  in  each    one  drove    her    further   up,    until  at    last 


A   CEUISE    TO    THE    SUNITT    SOUTH.  229 

she  was  nearly  to  the  highest  part  of  the  beach.  Was 
rolling  heavily,  first  one  way  then  the  other,  with  the 
force  of  the  sea  and  wind.  We  were  afraid  she  might 
be  left  heeling  to  seaboard  ;  so  we  boarded  her,  took 
the  kedge  anchor  over  the  high  beach,  and  with  the 
end  of  the  halser  attached  to  the  main  halliards,  hove 
her  down,  deck  in  shore,  and  secured  her.  When 
the  tide  went  out  she  was  all  right.  Northerly  winds 
and  sea  banked  the  sand  around  her  fearfully.  The 
cargo  in  a  damaged  condition  was  advertised  and  sold 
at  auction,    at  a   considerable   loss  to   the  shippers. 

The  weather  after  some  time  being  more  favorable, 
our  captain  contracted  with  the  planter  to  get  the 
vessel  off;  but  he  would  only  make  the  attempt  in 
case  he  could  secure  my  assistance,  as  he  knew  but 
little  about  launching  vessels.  The  captain  told  me 
what  he  had  agreed  on,  and  finally  with  the  assistance 
of  the  slaves,  we  went  to  work.  Trees  were  cut  down, 
and  hewn  off  on  two  sides  flat.  We  had  heavers  in- 
stead of  screws,  but  after  some  hard  work  raised  her 
sufficiently  to  place  the  ways  underneath.  I  objected 
to  the  timber  used  for  the  purpose,  properly  judging 
it  not  strong  enough  to  bear  the  heft  of  the  vessel,  but 
thf^  "  boss  ^'  thought  he  knew  about  this  better  than  I 
did,  so,  let  him  try  it.  Greased  the  ways  and  started 
her  down,  but  slucing  a  little  on  her  way  to  the  water, 
brought  an  unequal  bearing  and  down  went  the  timber, 
and  the  vessel  in  the  sand  and  water,  by  far '  in  a  worse 


230  A   CEinSE    TO    THE    SUNNY    SOUTH. 

condition  than  when  we  started  her  ;  for  now  all  the 
work  done  must  be  done  in  the  wet.  Other  and  larger 
trees  were  cut,  squared  and  placed  under,  and  in  due 
time  she  was  launched  down,  only  hanging  by  the  stern 
on  shore  while  her  bows  floated.  We  all  hands  turned 
on  at  high  water  to  heave  her  clear  of  the  land,  but 
for  some  time  worked  in  vain  ;  she  would  not  go. 
Gave  it  up  for  a  higher  tide.  Shortly  a  good  breeze 
blowing  off  shore,  boarded  and  set  her  sails  ;  everything 
drew,  but  yet  she  started  not,  and  as  the  tide  began 
to  fall,  we  left  her.  Soon,  however,  a  terrible  rumbling 
voice  was  heard  among  the  pine  trees  ;  it  was  a  squall 
of  wind,  and  when  it  struck  the  vessel  with  her  sails 
still  hoisted,  it  made  her  groan — but  it  took  her  off 
and  she  swung  at  her  anchor. 

We  boarded  her,  lowered  theii  sails,  and  made  pre. 
paration  to  go  up  to  Norfolk.  A  person  had  been  on 
board  whom  we  had  secured  as  a  pilot,  but  afterwards 
found  he  was  a  very  ignorant  one,  to  say  the  least. 
The  captain  gave  'the  charge  up  to  him  and  went  be- 
low. We  started.  Could  hardly  lay  our  course ;  the 
pilot  had  the  helm ;  the  tide  was  ahead ;  I  saw  we 
were  sagging  down  toward  a  Lightboat,  and  spoke  to 
the  pilot  about  it.  He  said  there,  was  no  Lightboat 
there,  that  it  was  only  a  vessel  at  anchor  I  knew 
better,  for  I  had  seen  her  ever  since  we  had  been  on 
shore.  I  then  told  him  he  was  no  pilot,  and  didn't 
know  but    little  anyway.     We   tacked    ship  and    stood 


A    CRUISE    TO    THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  231 

to  the  southward.  I  kept  heaving  the  lead,  and  as  we 
shoaled  the  water,  would  come  in  stays.  We  had 
made  a  few  tacks  and  were  standing  to  the  westward. 
The  pale  beams  of  the  moon  threw  their  light  over 
the  water,  and  looking  toward  the  land  I  saw  Hamp- 
ton Bar,  which  fact  I  communicated  to  the  pilot  and 
told  him  we  had  better  go  about.  He  said  we  were 
not  near  it  yet,  but  I  insisted  that  1  was  correct,  and 
that  if  we  did  not  soon  tack  we  should  be  on  the  bot- 
tom. I  had  the  helm  now  myself  He  took  the  lead 
and  line,  hove  one  cast,  while  I  watched  the  line  as 
it  ran  out  and  preceived  it  to  be  shoal  water.  Clap- 
ped the  helm  hard  down  ;  she  shot  ahead  a  considerable, 
which  brought  her  upon  the  bar.  The  captain  came 
on  deck  and  wanted  to  know  if  we  were  cast  away 
again.  I  told  him  we  had  a  jackass  for  a  pilot',  for 
he  liked  to  have  run  the  lightboat  down,  and  didn't 
know  there  was  such  a  thing  about  here,  and  now  has 
run  us  on  the  bar.  The  sails  were  instantly  lowered 
and  an  anchor  carried  out  from  the  port  bow ;  but  not 
being  able  to  heave  her  off  by  that,  took  the  anchor 
and  carried  it  out  astern.  Soon  brought  her  to  it  and 
went  up  to  Norfolk,  arriving  there  Dec.  23d  We 
were  unable  to  get  any  person,  white  or  black,  bond 
or  free,  to  go  to  work  on  our  repairs,  as  every  individ- 
ual must  have  three  days  for  the  Christmas  holidays. 
From  what  I  saw  of  it,  concluded  one  day  was  to  get 
ready  for  it,  one  was   for  a  good  drunk,  and  the  third 


232  A    CKUISE    TO    THE    SITSTXY    SOUTH. 

to  become    sober.     The    calkers    and    carpenters    then 
turned  out  and  put  the  vessel  in  good  order. 

The  captain  one  day  was  on  shore.  I  was  aloft  fit- 
ting some  part  of  the  rigging,  expecting  soon  to  start 
for  Richmond.  '  A  gentlemen  came  on  board  and  in- 
quired for  the  captain,  and  being  told  that  he  was  on 
shore,  then  asked  to  see  the  mate.  I  immediately 
came  down  and  shook  hands  with  him,  calling  him  by 
his  name.  He  returned  the  greeting  in  a  cordial  man- 
ner, but  with  some  surprise  said,  "You  have  the 
advantage  of  me,  sir  ;  you  appear  to  know  me,  but  I 
do  not  recollect  that  I  have  evt^r  met  you  before." 
"  Nor  have  you,  sir,  and  I  have  no  advantage  of  you 
in  the  least ;  I  have  not  seen  you  before,  nor  did  I 
know  there  was  such  a  man  in  existence,  but  allow 
me  to  ask  if  you  did  not  once  have  a  brother  by  the 
name  of  Butler,  who  resided  on  Marthas  Vineyard  ?'' 
He  said  that  Matthew  Butler  was  his  brother,  and  did 
once  live  there  "  Well,"  said  I,  you  resemble  him 
so  closely,  if  I  had  not  known  him  to  be  among  the  dead, 
should  have  supposed  you  were  the  man  ;  but  as  you 
are  not,  you  must  be  his  brother.  This  gentleman  be- 
ing a  pilot  by  profession,  his  services  were  engaged 
to  take  us  up.  We  loaded  with  flour  for  Charleston, 
arrived  with  it,  and,  before  the  river  closed  up,  made 
a  start  for  Santee  for  a  cargo  of  rough  rice,  which 
was  taken  in  bulk.  Continued  in  the  rice  business 
during  the  Winter,  sometimes  loading. at  Santee,  some 
times  at  Tranquility  and  Wamboo. 


A    CEUISE    TO    THE    SUl^TNY    SOUTH.  233 

Some  of  the  rivers  visited  we  were  obliged  to  cut 
our  way  up,  the  foliage  was  so  deuse  along  their 
margins ;  but  the  season  was  good  and  the  business 
very  agreeable. 

In  the  Spring  took  in  a  cargo  of  staves  on  freight, 
for  an  -individual  of  our  acquaintance  who  had  been 
trading,  and  in  part  payment  took  staves  for  the  New 
York  market.  We  come  out  of  Georgetown  with  a 
heavy  wind,  stood  off  shore  fifteen  or  eighteen  hours, 
a  heavy  swell  heaving  in  toward  the  land.  The  cap- 
tain said  we  had  better  let  her  come  around  and  stand 
in.  I  told  him  we  could  not  yet  fetch  by  Cape  Hat- 
teras,  but  not  agreeing  with  me,  did  as  he  was  disposed 
and  tacked.  T  asked  him  how  far  off  he  judged  us  to 
be.  He  named  the  distance,  and  I  told  him  he  was 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  further  out  than  my  calculations 
brought  me.  I  gave  as  my  reason  that  the  old  swell 
had  impeded  our  headway  at  least  one  knot  an  hour, 
but  he  doubted  it.  The  wind  soon  came  out  fair.  We 
were  under  whole  sail,  it  was  somewhat  smoky  and 
thick,  and  I  felt  anything  but  comfortable  for  fear  of 
what  I  thought  was  ahead.  I  maintained  a  good  look- 
out, and  not  long  after  I  discovered  right  on  our  track 
a  shoal.  Reported  this  to  the  captain,  who  had  the 
helm  at  the  time,  and  asked  him  if  he  was  aware  that 
he  was  running  on  to  Lookout  Shoal.  He  replied  that 
he  was  not,  nor  was  I.  I  then  told  him  that  the  shoal 
was  right    ahead,  and    that  if   we    did    not    alter    the 


234  A    CRUISE    TO    THE    SUXNY    SOUTH. 

course  we  should  surely  strike  it.  Said  he,  "  I  never 
]ji  all  my  life  saw  such  a  man  as  you  are  ;  you  are 
always  borrowing  trouble  for  yourself  and  everybody 
else."  I  told  him  how  much  better  it  was  to  avoid 
trouble  before  getting  into  it.  He  told  me  to  take  the 
helm,  and  he  would  hunt  up  all  the  line  there. was  on 
board  the  vessel  and  see  if  he,  could  find  any  bottom. 
He  was  some  time  in  the  cubin.  .  At 'last,  getting  out 
of  patience,  I  told  him  that  a  short  line  was  all  that 
he  would  need,  and  that  would  be  useless  if  he  did 
not  come  soon..  He  came  up  and  bent  the  line  on, 
sounded,  and  found  but  a  few  fathoms. 

It  had  now  begun  to  thunder  and  lighten,  and  away 
to  the  northward  and  westward  saw  an  ugly  squall 
coming  down  for  us.  Let  every  sail  run  flat  to  the 
deck.  It  came  on  violently,  but  in  a  few  moments  it 
had  passed  and  left  us  perfectly  becalmed.  Hoisted 
the  jib  and  main-sail,  a  heavy  swell  meanwhile  roll- 
ing us  toward  the  shoal  now  quite  handy  to  us.  We 
took  a  large  sweep  or  oar  over  the  quarter,  and  on 
the  bow  opposite,  and  after  a  while  swept  her  bows 
to  the  swell.  Cleared  away  the  cables  and  anchors, 
ready  to  lot  go  if  necessary.  Took  the  sweeps,  on 
each  side  doubled  manned,  and  began  to  pull  for  dear 
life  ;  were  just  able  to  hold  our  own.  She  was  pitch- 
ing, first  her  bows  under,  then  the  stern  boat  was  ter- 
ribly thumped.  It  was  now  a  little  past  noon.  We 
kept  on  pulling,  feeling  rather  ugly  and,  if  I  correctly 


A   CKUISE    TO    THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  235 

remember,  somewhat  inclined  to  be  impudent.  Just  at 
sunset  a  little  breeze  came  to  our  assistance,  and  gladly 
our  sweeps  were  replaced  in  their  lashings  and  we  shot 
out  clear  of  the  corner  of  the  dreaded  shoal.  Looking 
to  see  the  trim  of  the  sheets  aft,  observed  the  clue  of 
the  mainsail  was  about  gone,  foom  the  slatting  it  had 
taken.  Lowered  it  down,  put  in  a  single  reef,  and  re- 
set it.  Finally  passed  Cape  Hatteras,  arriving  in  a  few 
days  at  New  York.  The  staves  were  sold,  fetching 
twenty-five  cts.  less  than  was  required  to  pay  freighting. 
,  Returned  to  the  Vineyard  some  time,  in  July.  The 
underwriters  had  refused  to  pay  the  insurance  on  our 
outward  bound  voyage.  Claiming  that  our  vessel 
had  deviated  on  the  passage,  the  agent,  Mr.  John 
Thaxter,  went  to  Boston,  returning  soon  after  for  my 
deposition,  which  was  subsequently  taken  into  court, 
and  I  was  in  hopes  to  be  able  to  avoid  having  Sbny- 
thing  further  to  do  in  the  aflair.  Some  few  months 
after,  however,  I  was  summoned  to  come  into  Court, 
to  be  holden  in  Boston.  I  went,  was  put  upon  the 
stand,  and  questioned  very  closely  in  regard  to  the 
voyage.  When  asked  if  I  was  mate  and  where  I  kept 
the  log,  replied  that  I  was,  for  want  of  a  better  man, 
and  that  my  log  was  in  my  head.  In  the  course  of  my 
evidence,  I  gave  the  details  of  the  passage  and  pj'o- 
ceedings  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  recollection, 
much  as  it  has  already  been  given  to  you.  In  refer- 
ence to  my  being  able  to  idetify  the  Eliza  Jane,  already 


236  A   CRTnSE    TO   THE    SUIiTNY   SOUTH. 

alluded  to,  I  was  questioned  and  cross-questioned  by 
the  several  attorneys  for  nearly  three  hours.  Said  one, 
''We  presume  if  she  had  left  the  cove  the  previous 
day,  any  other  craft  would  have  answered  your  purpose 
equally  as  well."  Much  was  said  relative  to  the  dis- 
tance the  vessels  were  apart.  I  had  observed  one.  of 
the  lawyers  frequently  consult  a  paper  on  the  desk  be- 
fore him,  and  concluded  it  must  be  tlie  deposition 
formerly  given.  I  asked  him  if  it  was  not.  Hg  replied 
that  it  was,  and  that  I  must  follow  a  bee-line  or  I 
should  be  trapped.  In  reply  I  told  him  that  he  rather 
had  the  advantage  of  me,  but  when  it  was  given 
months  before,  I  gave  it  with  a  view  to  the  truth  as 
it  existed ;  but  thinking  the  affair  would  be  adjusted 
without  any  further  proceedings  on  my  part,  I  might 
have  allowed  some  of  the  circumstances  to  pass  from 
memory,  and  might  vary  a  trifle  in  some  subjects,  but 
added,  that  however  true  this  might  be,  the  vessel  I 
could  never  be  mistaken  in,  from  her  peculiar  construc- 
tion. She  was  built  at  first  for  a  sloop,  was  bought 
on  the  stocks  previous  to  her  being  planked,  —  she  was 
sawed  apart  amidships,  and  a '"piece  put  in  the  middle 
made  her  very  crooked  or  moon-shaped, —  when  her 
masts  were  put  in  they  pitched  aft,  the  main  truck 
being  over  the  topsail.  I  knew  her  well,  and  if  any 
one  was  not  satisfied  with  my  ability,  I  would  take 
them  to  Goldsborough  and  show  them  the  stumps  Irom 
which  her  timbers  and  planking  were   cut.     It  was  de- 


A   CEtriSE    TO   THE    SUXNY    SOUTH.  23T 

cided  by  the  jury  that  I  knew  the  vessel,  and  a  verdict 
was  rendered  in  favor  of  the  owners  of  our  vessel,  on 
the  ground  that  it  being  unsafe  fox. a  superior  vessel 
to  our  own  to  n^ake  a  passage  under  the  same  circum- 
stances as  ourselves,  was  not  sufficient  reason  to  rob 
shippers  of  their  just  demands  for  insurance  on  the 
losses  which  could  not  be  foreseen  or  prevented ;  the 
result  being  mainly  attributed  to  the  weight  of  the  ev- 
idence I  was  able  to  impart.  In  the  way  of  compen- 
sation for  my  .valuable  services,  the  owners  did  not 
give  me  as  much  as  a  plug  of  tobaco,  though  perfectly 
familar  with  my  propensity  and  strong  attachment  to, 
the  weed,  and  which  no  doubt  so  disgusted  me,  that 
in  less  than  twenty  years  time  I  abondoned  the  habit 
of  its  use  entirely.  Have  since  enjoyed  a  good  degree 
of  health,  besides  conferring  a  great  favor  on  my  ever 
devoted  companion,  the  bosom  friend  of  my  earlier 
life. 

The  next    season  took   charge  of   this  vessel,  and  if 
you  care  to  hear  it,  will  tell  you  where  I  went. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

A   VOTAGE    TO   LABRADOR   LN"    SLOOP   HERO. 

BTARTED  for  Boston  May  Ist.,  with  eight  men  and 
a  boy,  to  fit  for  a  fishing  voyage,  and  in  a  few- 
days  put  to  sea.  Qur  first  land  fall  was  Gaba- 
russe,  Cape  Breton,  where  we  dropped  anchor  on  ac- 
count of  bad  weather  and  head  winds.  A  boat  con- 
taining a  man  shoved  off  to  us ;  he  had  with  him  a  bag 
of  young  pigs  which  were  offered  for  sale.  As  we  did 
not  care  for  them,  declined  to  purch-ase,  but  after 
considerable  talk  he  was  offered  and  gladly  accepted, 
half  a  bushel  of  meal  for  two  of  them,  and  told  us  to 
take  more  of  them  if  we  desired.  I  told  him  two  were 
as  many  as  I  knew  what  to  do  with.  He  put  them 
on  board,  the  boy  placed  them  in  a  barrel  and  was 
ordered  to  take  care  of  them.  Sometimes  we  would 
give  them  fresh  fish ;  they  enjoyed  stripping  it  up  and 
throve  nicely.  We  had  a  good  run,  made  a  stop  at 
Bay  of  Islands,  procured  wood,  water,  boat  spars,  etc., 
and  continued  the  passage,  arriving  at  Brador  Gulch, 
where  our  fishing  was  to  be  prosecuted.  We  were 
quite     successful     during     the     season.        The      latter 

238 


A  VOYAGE    TO    LABEADOR   IN    SLOOP    HEEO.  239 

part  of  June  had  a  visit  from  a  gentleman  residing  by 
a  neigliboring  harbor.  He  said  he  had  noticed  we  had 
pigs  running  around  on  the  rocks  on  shore,  and  was 
very  desirous  of  buying  them.  He  said  he  wanted 
them  dreadfully.  We  refused  to  let  them  go  ;  for  on 
the  fourth  of  July  we  intended  to  celebrate,  and  the 
pigs  were  to  be  butchered  for  the  dinner.  On  the 
first  day  of  the  month,  myself  with  a  number  of  the 
men  having  some  business  to  transact  with  the  gentle- 
man alluded  to,  we  went  to  his  house.  Found  .him 
•With  his  wife  at  home.  I  happened  to  be  seated  near 
the  outer  door,  alone,  while  the  others  were  together 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room.  The  lady  came  along 
and  took  a  seat  by  me  and  commenced  to  speak  of 
matters  arid  things  in  general,  but  I  perceived  she  had 
something  on  her  mind  of  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
Directly,  in  a  quiet  and  subdued  voice,  bending  her 
form  most  gracefully  to  me,  she  attempted  to  give  ut- 
terance to  the  burden  of  her  heart.  Just  think  of  the 
painful  suspense  in  that  moment  of  seeming  inability 
to  control  her  emotions,  or  express  her  longing  desires  ! 
Taking  a  long  breath  the  tremulous  lips  began  to  move, 
and,  with  her  bright  eyes  resting  on  mine,  hardly  less 
brilliant  (just  about  that  time),  she  broke  forth,  "Mister, 
ain't  you  the  man  that  owns  the  pigs  ?  '^  I  told  her 
that  I  was.  "Well,"  said  she,  "I  do  want  them 
dreadfully  ;  I  will  pay  you  any  price  for  them."  I 
told  her  that  I  could  not  think  of  disposing  of  them, 
that  we  had  anticipated  having  a  general  good  time  on 


240  A    VOYAGE    TO    LABRADOR   i:^-    SLOOP    HERO. 

the  fourth  of  July,  and  must  have  the  pigs  for  our  din- 
ner. '*OhI"  said  she,  "it  is  too  cruel  to  kill  those 
little  hogs,  and  I  do  want  them  so  badly."  I  saw 
that  I  should  be  unable  to  prevail  against  such  plead- 
ings, and  finally,  with  considerable  reluctance,  gave 
way  with  a  promise  that  she  might  have  one  if  she 
was  so  much  in  want  of  one.  But  still  I  found  her 
only  partially  satisfied  ;  once  more  she  turned  to  me 
and  very  naturally  asked  if  they  were  not  of  different 
sexes.  I  replied  that  they  were.  "Is  it  not  then  best 
to  let  me  have  them  both  and  not  destroy  the  family" 
relation?"  At  last,  finding  her  not  to  be  put  off,  I 
agreed,  if  she  would  pay  the  boy  two  dollars  for'  his 
care  of  them,  she  might  have  them,  as  I  did  not  wish 
to  speculate  in  pigs,  and  was  not  anxious,  to  make 
anything  out  of  them.  Her  countenance  was  radiant, 
and  she  gave  me  such  a  smile  of  gratitude  that  I  was 
glad  I  let  her  have  them  ;  although  no  doubt  if  she 
had  not  been  an  exceedingly  handsome  lady,  we  should 
have  eaten  them  as  we  had  hoped  to.  For  this  act  of 
kindness  I  was  severly  censured  when  I  returned  to 
the  vessel  and  informed  the  crew  of  what  I  had  done, 
one  going  so  far  as  threaten  to  inform  the  owners  that 
I  had  sold  the  vessel's  provision  for  speculative  pur- 
poses. I  told  him  the  trouble  would  be  saved  him. 
When  we  arrived  at  home  1  told  the  circumstances  to 
Mr.  Timothy  Coffin,  our  owner,  and  he  said  he  wished 
I  had  taken  all  the  pigs  down  and   given  them  away. 


A    VOYAGE    TO    LABEADOR    IX    SLOOP    HERO.  241 

In  the  Fall  saw  the  pigs  ;  they  had  grown  nicely,  and 
I  tried  to  buy. them  of  the  lady  again.  She  said  I 
hadu't  money  enough  on  board  the  vessel  to  tempt  her 
to  part  with  them.  These  were  the  first  pigs  ever 
introduced  there,  and  I  afterwards  learned  that  they 
became  quite  plentiful. " 

Our  fish  were  now  sold,  with  the  exception  of  about 
eighty  quintals,  still  uwaiting  a  fair  day  to  complete 
the  drying.  A  spell  of  wet  easterly  weather  hung  on, 
and  finally  concluded  the  vessel  in  waiting  had  better 
pi'oceed  on  her  voyage,  and  we  would  take  the  fish  on 
board  our  vessel  and  start  for  home.  We  did  so  with 
a  fair-  wind  the  following  morning.  In  the  afternoon  it 
commenced  to  blow.  At  four  o'clock  I  took  the  helm, 
and,  the  gale  increasing,  the  vessel  was  brought  to 
scudding  under  a  square  sail.  Eleven  hours  it  had 
been  blowing  and  the  sea  was  extremely  dangerous. 
When  my  trick  at  the  wheel  was  up,  could  find  none 
who  dared  relieve  me.  They  claimed,  that,  as  I  was 
more  accustomed  to  the  vessel,  it  was  unsafe  to  trust 
her  with  any  one  else,  for  fear  that  she  might  broach 
to,  when  it  would  be  all  up  with  us.  Nineteen  hours 
I  remained  without  a  spell,  occasionally  taking  a 
mouthful  of  grub  or  a  hasty  drink  as  I  could  catch  it. 
After  it  moderated  gave  up  the  helm.  Were  now  off 
Cod  Roy  harbor,  which  we  entered  and  for  a  number 
of  blowy  days  lay  at  our  anchors.  I  told  our  folks  it 
would  be  best  to  secure    the    ballast    by  flooring    over 


242     A  VOYAGE  TO  LABRADOR  IX  SLOOP  HERO. 

with  boards,  to  prevent  it  from  shifting  in  case  of 
more  rugged  weather  -v^ich  we  might  reasv^nably  look 
for  before  getting  home.  They  all  preferred  to  go  out 
gunning,  and  did  so.  During  their  absence,  I  went 
into  the  hold,  laid  a  floor,  and  with  the  spurs  stanch- 
ioned down  solid,  made  it  quite  secure.  But  for  fear 
the  stanchions  between  the  deck  and  flooring  might  work 
loose  with  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  I  cut  hinges  from 
the  legs  of  old  boots,  and  nailed  them  to  the  heads  of 
the  posts  and  to  the  deck  as  a  preventive.  The  wind 
came  fair  and  we  made  sail,  shaping  our  course  for 
Scatteree,  a  ninety  miles  run. 

With  a  fair  wind  and  plenty  of  it,  we  were  going 
off  a  pretty  good  jog.  It  began  to  blow  still  harder, 
and  thicken  up,  and  there  was  every  appearance  of  a 
South-easter.  Not  long  were  we  in  forming  the  con- 
clusion that  sail  must  be  reduced  and  the  vessel  hove 
to.  Now  we  wished  we  had  more  sea-room.  We  woie 
ship,  and  headed  off  on  the  starboard  tack  ;  in  place  of 
the  mainsail  set  the  trysail,  with  the  jib  reefed.  Soon 
had  to  take  in  the  jib,  and  it  had  become  dangerous 
to  longer  remain  on  deck.  Lashed  the  helm  to  the  lee 
and  all  hands  went  below  and  closed  the  gangway 
slide.  It  was  a  hard  old  night ;  a  sea  would  strike  and 
heave  her  lee  rail  all  under.  Some  of  us'  looked  rather 
pale  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gills,  somewhat  fearful  of 
the  ballast  shifting.  It  was  a  queer  looking  group, 
seated    on    the    cabin    floor    during    that    tempestuous 


A  VOYAGE  TO  LABRADOR  IN  SLOOP  HERO.       243 

night.  I  told  them  there  was  much  more  danger  to  be 
apprehended  from  what  lay  to  leeward  of  us,  than  from 
the  ballast  in  our  hold.  We  only  had  forty  miles  drift- 
way before  we  should  be  piled  up  on  the  shore,  where 
the  coast  was  rock-bound,  in  some  places  more  than 
five  hundred  feet  high.  The  next  forenoon  the  wind 
suddenly  changed  to  the  opposite  direction,  blowing  a 
gale  from  that  quarter,  but  st  11  we  did  not  dare  to 
run.  Laid  to  twelve  hours  for  the  sea  to  get  regulated, 
then  put  her  before  it,  under  the  sail  we  had  hove  to 
under. 

Had  a  good  passage  the  rest  of  the  way  home, 
arriving  the  first  of  September.  I  remained  about  home 
for  some  time,  occupyiug  myself  in  various  ways, 
sometimes  by  short  trips  on  the  water,  or  lumping 
•along  shore.  I  took  two  more  voyages  to  the  Straits, 
which  I  shall  slightly  allude  to.  My  usual  occupation, 
on  land  for  more  than  thirty  years,  was  the  fitting  of 
rigging  on  board  wrecked  vessels,  and  for  the  fleet  of 
whalers  then  owned  by  our  citizens. 

There  were  three  of  us  who  were  in  the  gang,  a  Mr. 
Godfrey,  acting  as  our  boss  until  his  death  when  I 
took  the  position,  though  Mr.  G.  had  never  been  in 
the  habit  of  cutting  a  gang  of  rigging  without  consult- 
ing me.  Mr.  Collins  was  our  third  man  until  quite  a 
number  of  years  since,  previous,  however,  to  the  decease 
of  our  boss,  when  a  Mr.  Courtney,  a  retired  whaleman 
lent  us  his  assistance.      Mr.  C.  was  one    of  the     best 


44  A    VOYAGE   TO    LABRADOR   IN    SLOOP    HERO. 

whalemen  that  ever  went  in  the  head  of  a  boat,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  thick  blood  flow  a  great 
many  times  under  the  accuracy  of  his  aim,  and  even 
now  it  is  somewhat  amusing  to  listen  to  his  *  bloody 
stories  of  ugly  whales,  and  how  they  were  at  last 
foiled-  to  surrender.  It  rarely  happens  that  he  spends 
an  evening  in  a  crowd,  but  that  several  voyages  are 
made  and  enough  oil  taken  to  supply  a  pretty  quick 
market.  Not  only  did  I  find  employment  as  rigger, 
but  in  a  general  way  performed  a  little  of  all  sorts 
relating  to  fitting  awayships  or  stripping  them  on  their 
return,  or  sometimes  acting  as  oil  watcher  at  night, 
also  assisted  in  breaking  out  the  cargo,  etc.,  etc.  ;  any 
thing  which  ofiered  which  was  remunerative  and  re- 
spectable. 

Many  accidents  have  attended  me  during  my  exper- 
ence,  since  I  left  a  regular  sea-faring  life.  More  than 
once  have  I  missed  my  footing,  and  come  from  alof 
much  quicker  than  I  went  up  ;  yet  through  the  kind 
ness  of  a  watchful  Providence,  have  escaped  without 
any  permanent  injury  to  limb,  or  disfiguring  of  features. 
Am  still  able  to  walk  erect  and  enjoy  the  gratifying 
reflection  that  I  am  not  really  bad-looking  ;for  a  man 
of  eighty.  Not  a  great  many  years  ago,  while  en- 
ga;ged  in  fitting  the  rigging  on  board  a  vessel,  a  rope 
above  me  parted,  letting  a  large  sized  hoisting  block 
plump  upon  my  head  ;  two  hours  after,  the  same 
thing  was    repeated,  and  yet    I    sustained    my    senses 


A    VOYAGE    TO    LABRADOR   IN    SLOOP    HERO  245 

though  for  a  while  in  both  instances  1  saw  stars  dis- 
tinctly. Not  a  few  times  hare  I  barely  escaped  with 
my  life  from  similar  accidents,  besides  the  capsizing 
of  boats,  and  a  general  variety  of  mishaps  incidental 
to  an  individuals  destined  to  be  always  in  harm's  way. 
About  three  years  ago  a  little  incident  happened  so 
out  of  the  regular  course  of  things,  and  the  means 
of  restoring  myself  being  strictly  original  and  withal 
not  extremely  expensive,  I  think  it  best  for  the  benefit 
of  my  hearers  and  of  mankind  generally,  to  speak  of 
it.  I  was  at  work  by  the  day  on  a  ship  fitting  for  a 
whaling  voyage.  As  was  our  usual  custom,  at  noon 
all  hands  knocked  off,  and  went  for  our  dinners.  For 
the  want  of  anything  better,  my  good  woman  had  fried 
some  bacon.  Somewhat  hungry,  (for  hard  work  will  most 
always  make  person  so),  seated  myself,  and  doubt- 
less displayed  some  eagerness  in  putting  my  allowance 
away.  Not  having  a  great  many  teeth  with  which  to 
chew  my  food,  and,  as  I  have  since  discovered,  but  a 
very  diminutive  swallow.  In  the  act  of  taking  a  piece 
of  meat  it  became  fixed  in  the  throat  so  tightly  that  it 
was  very  much  feared  I  should  strangle  myself.  A  per- 
son was  dispatched  with  all  haste  for  Prof.  Mayberry, 
one  of  our  eminent  M.  D.^s  of  our  village.  He  art-ived 
and  considering  it  quite  essential  to  provide  himself 
with  some  surgical  instruments,  in  order  to  relieve 
me  from  my  critical  condi-tion,  returned  to  his  office, 
less  than  half  a  mile  distant. 


246  A   VOYAGE   TO     LABRADOR    IN    SLOOP     HERO. 

In  the  mean  time  I  became  somewhat  impatient,  for 
although  the  doctor  was  not  gone  long,  it  seemed  to 
me  an  age,  and  at  last  I  became  so  exasperated  that  I 
took  a  long  slender  stick,  split  the  end,  picked  up  a 
dirty  piece  of  rag  that  happened  to  be  lying  round 
loose,  drew  apart  into  the  stick,  winding  a  quantity 
over  the  end,  and  then  leading  the  outer  end  to  the 
end  of  the  stick  that  was  to  be  held  in  my  hand.  I 
gave  it  a  desperate  shove.  The  meat  went  down  and 
I  got  up;  did  not  stop  to  finish  the  dinner,  but  took 
my  hat  and  started  for  the  ship.  Met  the  doctor  on 
his  way,  when  I  told  him  it  was  so  near  one  o'clock 
(the  turning  on  time  where  I  worked),  that  I  couldn't 
stop  any  longer  for  him.  AYent  to  work  as  usual. 
Since  that  time,  when  strangling,  I  always  use  the 
same  means  and  do  not  send  for  the  doctor. 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

ONE  OF  THE  VOYAGES  FORTY  YEARS  AGO. 

^OU  will  pardon  me,  my  friends,  for  passing  over 
two  voyages  to  Labrador,  which  should  have 
been  noticed  earlier  in  this  narrative,  having 
been  accomplished  forty  years  ago,  more  or  less.  One 
of  these  voyages  was  in  a  miserable  old  hulk  without 
sails  and  rigging,  just  fit  for  old  junk.  As  usual  went 
to  Boston  for  our  supplies,  etc.,  with  a  crew  of  nine 
men.  Had  a  common  passage,  nothing  remarkable 
occurring  as  far  as  Canso,  near  Halifax.  The  wind 
then  came  ahead  and  rain  set  in  ;  the  main  sail  became 
very  heavy  and  sagged  so  that  the  bolt  rope  parted, 
and  down  it  came,  leaving  a  foot  or  two  of  the  sail 
aloft  with  the  gaff.  Sent  them  down,  and  mended  the 
sail  the  best  we  could  before  running  it  up  again.  The 
rain  changed  to  a  thick  fog,  and  we  thought  best  to 
endeavor  to  find  a  harbor. 

We  knew  hardly  anything  in  regard  to  the  lay  of 
the  land,  knew  not  any  place  convenient  for  our 
purpose,  but  kept  along  maintaining  a  good  look  out. 
Soon  land  hove  in  sight  close  aboard  of  us,  right  ahead. 


2tfc8  ONE    OF   THE    VOYAGES    FORTY    YEARS    AGO. 

Tacked  ship,  stood  to  the  wind  south,  and  directly 
land  was  ahead  and  under  our  lee.  It  appeared  that 
by  some  means  we  had  entered  a  river.  Made  short 
tacks,  until  a  ledge  of  rocks  directly  ahead  and  in  the 
middle  of  the  passage  caused  us  to  let  go  the  anchor. 
The  shore  was  not  in  sight  now,  so  dense  was  the 
fog.  It  was  high  water.  We  went  below  and  made  a 
good  fire  to  dry  and  warm  om^selves.  Not  a  great 
while  after,  a  boat  came  alongside,  ii.  which  was  a 
gentleman  who  asked  whore  we  were  from.  We  told 
him  we  were  from  Boston  ;  had  been  in  about  one 
hour.  He  thought  we  must  have  had  an  excellent  pilot ; 
could  not  conceive  how  we  had  been  able  to  enter  the 
river  at  all,  so  thickly  were  rocks  and  shoals  scattered 
about.  He  remarked  that  he  had  lived  in  this  vicinity 
thirty  years,  and  never  before  had  he  seen  a  vessel  in 
there.  He  was  more  than  surprised  when,  in  reply  to 
a  question,  we  told  him  we  had  not  grounded  nor 
struck  a  rock.  I  thought  then  if  we  had  been  in  some 
nice  vessel  we  should  not  have  fared  so  well ;  but  the 
old  hulk  was  not  worth  pounding  against  rocks.  This 
man  was  a  pilot  along  the  coast,  but  he  acknowledged 
that  with  his  experience  and  knowledge  of  the  river 
he  could  not  have  succeeded  as  well  as  we  in  our 
ignorance  had  done.  I  thought  the  poet  was  perfectly 
correct  when  he  wrote, 
...  "When  ignorance  is  bliss,  'tis  folly  to  be  wise." 

We  waited  three  days  for  an  opportunity  to  be  taken 


ONE  OF  THE  VOYAGES  FORTY  YEARS  AGO.       24-9 

out.  The. pilot  started  with  us  on  about  tliree-quarter 
tide,  as  in  case  we  lodged  on  thp  rocks,  full  tide 
would  lift  us  clear.  The  name  of  the  harbor,  was 
Peter  the  Great,  lying  N  N.  E.  from  Canso  Light, 
thirty  or  forty  miles  distant.  We  continued  on  our 
voyage,  which  was  successfully  accomplished  without 
anything  transpiring  worthy  of  note,  except  our  safe 
arrival  at  home  where  we  remained  through  the  Winter, 
starting  the  following  Spring  on  another  trip  in  the 
good  old  brig  Planter. 

'  Our  brig  was  under  the  command  of  Thomas  Fisher, 
with  a  crew  of  twelve  men  and  a  boy.  Had  a  favor- 
able run  to  the  gut  of  Canso,  which  divides  Cape 
Breton  from  Nova  Scotia.  We  made  the  ice,  and  for 
security  went  into  the  harbor  of  Jesterco.  In  a  few 
days  had  company  by  the  arrival  of  another  fishing 
vessel.  From  the  extremely  friendly  relations  existing 
between  her  commander  and  our  own,  we  judged  them 
membeis  of  the  same  masonic  fraternity,  which  subse- 
quently proved  correct. 

The  ice  was  from  three  to  four  feet  thick,  and  from 
Newfoundland  across  to  where  we  lay,  one  field  of  ice 
stretched  out  before  the  eye.  We  had  waited  some 
time  for  it  to  clear  out.  One  afternoon  the  captain  of 
the  other  vessel  came  on  board.  Our  skipper  said  to 
Capt.  Cassno,  "  How  long  do  you  think  it  will  be 
before  this  ice  melts  or  goes  out  so  that  we  can  pro- 
ceed on  our  voyage  ?  '^     He    replied  that   if  we  waited 


250      ONE  OF  THE  VOYAGES  FORTY  YEARS  AGO. 

for  it  to  melt  or  break  up,  we  sRould  get  no  oppor- 
tunity for  fishing  during  the  season.  That,  to  me,  was 
anything  but-  an  agreeable  feature,  but  soon  he  some- 
what alleged  my  apprehensions  by  stating,  that  in  less 
than  twenty-four  hours  the  ice  would  all  disappear  by 
sinking.  "You  will  observe,  by  holding  a  piece  up  to 
the  light,  that  it  is  very  porous  and  has  a  dark  colored 
appearance,  a  sure  indication  that  it  will  not  long 
remain."  The  wind  was  to  the  southward  ;  consequently 
if  the  ice  moved,  it  would  have  to  drift  directly  to 
windward,  from  the  lay  of  the  land,  the  outlet  being 
only  ten  miles  wide  to  the  northward. 

At  daylight  in  the  morning  went  aloft,  looked  over 
the  beach,  and  no  ice  could  be  discovered.  Both  ves- 
sels got  under  way  and  sailed,  with  a  strong  fair  wind 
going  at  the  rate  of  seven  or  eight  miles  an  hour. 
Saw  no  ice  diring  our  further  passage;  now  where 
did  it  go  ?  I  say  it  sank,  and  persons  who  '  contend 
that  the  theory  of  fields  of  ice  sinking  is  false,  will 
please  tell  us,  if  it  does  not  sink  what  does  become 
of  it  ? 

On  the  passage  I  noticed  the  sKipper  and  Uncle 
Oliver  were  fitting  a  large  lot  of  gear.  I  looked  on  a 
few  minutes,  and  observed  to  the  shipper  that  I  pre- 
sumed he  and  Mr.  Norton  intended  to  catch  all  the 
fish  during  the  cruise.  Said  he,  ''0,  no  !  but  let  me 
*tell  you  we  do  expect  to  ciitch  one-half  that  comes  on 
board  the  vessel."     I  replied  that  they  would  not  if  I 


ONE  OF  THE  VOYAGES  FORTY  YEARS  AGO.     251 

had  my  health.  Said  he,  ''I  wonder  if  you  don't 
expect  to  be  'high  hook  V  ''  I  replied,  "That  is  just 
what  I  do  expect ;  if  I  can  not  will  not  go  home  in 
the  vessel.  Sooner  will  I  work  my  passage  on  some 
other  one.'^  Said  he,  "Then  I  rather  guess  we  shall 
make  a  saving  of  grub,  for  if  you  keep  your  word  we 
shall  have  one  less  to  provision  ;  for  I  never  was  beat 
in  my  life."  I  told  him  he  had  never  had  me  to  fish 
against.  "No,"  said  he.  "  but  I've  had  a  blamed 
sight  smarter  man  to  try  it  on."  He  had  the 
advantage  of  me  by  his  buying  the  stern  of  the  boat 
privelige,  while  I  had  to  fish  in  the  bows,  but  at  the 
close  of  the  season  I  led  him  in  count  ten  hundred 
and  forty-two  fish.  "Now,"  said  I  "Captain  Fisher, 
I  think  you  will  have  to  vitual  me  a  little  longer  ;  I 
shall  take  the  passage  with  you."  It  did  not  set  well 
on  his  stomach.  Uncle  Oliver  was  behind  me  over 
two  thousand,  I  having  taken  during  the  six  weeks  of 
fishing  thirteen  thousand  fish  to  my  line,  which,  with 
those  of  the  rest  of  the  crew,  were  salted  and  brought 
to  Boston  green,  and  were  cured  at  Galloupe's  Island, 
down  the  harbor.  When  we  had  completed  the  task, 
with  the  exception  of  about  eighty  quintal,  —  as  a  party 
had  chartered  the  brig  for  a  West  India  voyage,  the 
owners  were  exceeding  anxious  to  get  the  balance 
dried  and  brought  up  to  market.  The  caj^tain  was  an 
owner  also.  He  ordered  all  who  could  work  to  advant-' 
tage  to  turn  on  to  washing  out.     While    thus    engaged 


252       ONE  OF  THE  VOYAGES  FORTY  YEARS  AGO, 

I  noticed  that  the  heat  from  the  sun  was  very  oppres- 
sive ;  it  was  terribly  hot.  I  remarked  to  the  skipper 
that  unless  the  fish  already  spread  were  taken  care  of, 
the  heat  would  destroy  them.  As  he  paid  no  heed  to 
my  expression  of  opinion,  I  repeated  the  suggestion 
and  told  him  they  would  surely  become  sunburnt.  He 
only  told  me  that  I  appeared  to  have  a  great  deal  to 
say  about  the  fish.,  I  told  him  that  as  I  owned  the 
largest  portion  of  them,  my  self-interest  made  me 
speak.  He  said,  "Let  them  burn  and  be  hanged,  for 
every  fish  must  be  washed  to-day.''  The  washing  was 
continued  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  Towards  night 
went  on  shore  to  fagot,  or  pile  the  fish.  As  we  took 
them  by  the  tail  it  dropped  off  in  our  hands,  and  as 
we  attempted  to  gather  them  by  placing  the  hand  under 
them,  the  napes  would  fall  to  the  ground.  They  didn't 
amount  to  much.  Often  did  I  afterward  fill  a  bushel 
basket  with  the  burnt  fish,  and  exchange  them  with 
the  farmers  for  a  small  pail  of  milk.  What  were  not 
thus  disposed  of  we  left  upon  the  Island,  not  consider- 
ing them. worth  gathering  up.  I  told  the  skipper  that 
he  ought  to  be  compelled  to  pay  for  them ;  I  think  so 
still.  His  reply  was  that  he  was  not  aware  how  hot 
the  sun  was.  The  balance  of  the  cargo  was  taken  to 
the  city  and  sold,  and  after  a  six  months  absence  we 
returned  to  our  homes. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


CONCLUSIO]^. 


ND  now,  having  wearied    my  listeners    with    the 

pll^    recital  of   some  of  the  most  important  scenes  in 

my  checkered    life,  there    is    but    little   more   to 

add.     The  sun  of  my    declining  years    is    sinking   fast. 

The    trembling    limb    and    wrinkled    brow    tell    me    in 

words  that  is  diflScult  to  misinterpret,  that  the  glass  of 

my  mortal  voyage  has  about  run  out.     Three  score  and 

ten  has  been  numbered,    and   the    eighteenth   of  July, 

1873,  will  be  eighty  years  since  my  birth.      It    is    not 

strange  that  I  sometimes  feel  to  appropriate  the  words 

of  the  poet : 

"My  daj^s  are  gliding  swiftly  by. 
And  I  a  pilgrim  stranger." 

By  and  by  it  will  be  said  of  me,  as  of  most  of  my 
childhood's  companions,  "he  is  gone  ;"  but  if  prepared 
to  mc^t  the  great  change  that  awaits  the  family  of 
Earth,  it  is  not  particularly  material  at  just  what  mo- 
ment we  are  summoned.  Hoping  to  be  reunited  in  a 
brighter  world  than  this,  I  draw  the  narrative  to  a 
close. 

256 


THE  VESTRY  MELODIES. 


THE  BOOK  THAT  IS  WANTED. 


A  COLLECTION  OP  HYMNS  A^TD  TUNES  FOR  SOCIAL  AND  FAMILY 
WORSHIP. 


BY  XiESON-^RD    nMi^J^SHLA^LL,  Esq. 


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The  Sail  on  the  River.  Addie's  Party. 

LITTLE  KEEPSAKE   LIBBABY. 

By  Cousin  Belle.     6  vols. 

Addie's  Country  Home.  Addie's  Visitors. 

Addie's  Birthday.  Addie's  Party. 

Working  for  Mamma.  Addie's  New  "  Story  Book." 

COUSIN  BELLE'S  LIBBABT. 

For  the  Little  Folks.     6.  vols. 

Laura's  Gar^den.  The  Lost  Child. 

Addie's  Brother  Freddie.  Working  for  Papa. 

The  Magic  Lantern.  The  Sail  on  the  River. 

WATEB  LILT  STOBIES. 

Twelve  volumes.     32mo.     In  box.     $3. 

The  Gold  Bracelet.  Jan  Harm  sen,  the  Dutch  Orphan. 

Alice  and  her  Pupils.  Betsy  Bartlett. 

Rose  and  her  Troubles.  Kate  Aubrey's  Birthday. 

Charles  Morton.  Patience  and  Her  Friends. 

The  Little  Forest  Girl.  Will  Thornton,  the  Crow  Boy. 
Six-Penny  Calico. 


Boohs  Published  by  A.  F.  Graves, 


THE   CEDAR  BBOOK  STORIES; 

Or,  the  Clifford  Family. 
By  Mrs.  A.  S.  Moffat,     o  vols.     18rao.     $3.25 
Little  Seed  Sowers.  Seed  Growing 

Seed  Bearing  Fruit.  Sowing  in  New  Fields. 

Frank  Gone  to  the  War. 
These  five  volumes,  handsomely  illustrated,  in  a  neat  box.     The> 
are  by  one  of  the  best  of  our  writers,  and  are  every  way  adapted  to  th« 
family  or  Sabbath  school. 

GEORGIE'S  MENAGERIE. 

By  Mrs.  Madaline  Leslie.     6  vols.     $3.75. 
The  Lion.  The  Wolf. 

The  Bear.  The  Camel. 

The  Deer.  The  Elephant. 

These  six  volumes  are  handsomely  illustrated,  in  neat  box. 
A  very  interesting  account  of  tlie  life  and  habits  of  each  animal 
described  in  the  book  is  given,  and  much  valuable  information  can  ba 
obtained  by  reading  these  books. 

THE  ARLINGTON  SERIES. 

4  vols.     IGmo.     In  box.     $5.50. 
One-Armed  Hugh.  Wheel  of  Fortune. 

Boys  at  Dr.  Murray's.  The  Deserted  Mill. 

THE  LAKESIDE  STORIES. 

3  vols.     $4.25. 

The  Broken  Pitcher.  Mabel  Ross. 

Luke  Darrell. 

THE   GUNBOAT  SERIES. 

6  vols.     $7.50. 
Frank  the  Young  Naturalist. 
Frank  on  a  Gunboat.    . 
Frank  in  the  Woods. 
Frank  before  Vicksburg. 
Frank  on  the  Lower  Mississippi. 
Frank  on  the  Prairie. 


Books  Published  by  A.  F.  Graves. 


TUB    SUNSHINE  'SERIES. 
By  H.N.  W.  B.   Six  volumes.    18mo.   .^^.^O.   The  volumes  of  this  series  are 
Honeysuckle  ("^dttage.  Tony  and  his  Harp. 

The  Little  Florentine.  Tim:my  Top-Boots. 

The  Load  of  Chips.  Sophia  and  the  Gipseys. 

This  is  au  entirely  new  scries  of  books,  by  one  of  the  best  writers  of  juvenile 
books.  They  are  put  up  in  a  neat  box,  and  will  be  found  excellent  for  the  Sabbath 
School  Library. 

THE  FERNS  IDE  LIBRARY, 

Six  volumes.     Muslin.     Illustrated.     In  a  neat  box.     $7.50. 
Ann  Ash.  Anne  Dalton. 

The  Convict's  Sons.       Don't  Say  So. 
The  Errand  Boy.  The  Two  Firesides. 

THE  ROSEDALE  LIBRARY. 

Six  volumes.     16mo.     Illust.     In  neat  box.     $6. 

Henry  Arden.  Honest  Gabriel. 

Joe  Fulwood.  Kate  Kemp. 

Little  Jane.  Little  German  Drummer  Boy. 

THE  BOARBMAN  LIBRARY. 

By  Mrs.  W.  E.   Boardman.     Four  vols.     16mo.     Illust.    In  a  neat   * 
box.     $5. 

Haps  and  Mishaps  of  the  Brown  Family. 
The  Sister's  Triumph. 

Nelly  Gates  and  the  Little  Missionakt. 
The  Mother-in-Law. 

AMY    GARNETT, 

One  vol.,  16mo.    ^•1.25. 
Mr.  Graves's  list  of  Juveniles  comprises  some  of  the  best  sets  in  the  market. 
Full  lists  sent  on  application. 

LINDA  NEWTON, 

By  Mrs.  L.  J.  H.  Frost.     16mo.    ^1.50. 
This  story  is  of  thrllliuj,'-  interest,  and  one  that  can  be  placed  into  every  family 
circle  or  Sabbath  School,  with  the  assurance  that  it  will  do  good.     The  religious 
tone  of  it  is  superior.    The  purity  and  beauty  of  style  is  not  excelled.'  It  can  but 
be  ranked  with  the  best. 

DAVY'S  MOTTO. 

16mo.    $1.25. 
An  excellent  book  fcr  boys,  of  school  life,  and  one  that  every  boy  will  like  and 
be  profited  in  reading. 


Books  Published  hy  A.  F.  Graves. 


THE  FERCY  FAMILY. 

By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.     5  vols.     Illustrated.    $5. 

Visit  to  Ireland.  Exgland  and  Scotland. 

Paris  to  Amsterdam.  Baltic  to  Vesuvius. 

The  Alps  and  the  Rhine. 

This  set  of  books  give  an  account  of  Dr.  Eddy's  visit  to  Europe, 
and  gives  very  interesting  accounts  of  the  places  visited  by  him,  and 
what  came  under  his  own  observations.  A  mercliant  is  represented 
taking  his  two  children  upon  a  European  tour,  and  the  whote  is  written 
in  a  manner  which  cannot  fail  of  interesting  the  young,  as  well  as  those 
older  in  life. 

One- Armed  Hugh ;   or,  the  Corn   ^Ierchant.     1  vol.      16mo. 

$1.50. 

A  story  of  a  poor  boy,  wlio  accidentally  lost  his  arm,  but  who  was 
assisted  by  friends,  not  only  to  support  himself,  but  a  widowed  mother, 
and  to  become  a  useful  man.     It  is  an  excellent  book. 

The  JVJieel  of  Fortune.     By   Mrs.  Mad  aline  Leslie.     16mo 

$1.50. 

An  interesting  book,  — showing  the  ups  and  downs  of  life,  teaching 
a  lesson  which  all  should  learn. 

Boijs  at  Dr.  Murray^ s.    By  Glance  Gaylord. 

A  good  story  of  a  school  life,  and  an  admirable  illustration  of 
what  a  perfect  forgiving  spjrit  and  true  friendsliip  should  be ;  in  the 
case  of  Grant  Westerley,  whose  noble  efforts  won  Willett  Howth,  a 
fellow-scholar,  back  from  disgrace,  and  made  a  man  of  him. 

The  Deserted  Mill,  and  Potter  Family.     By  E.  L.  Llewellen. 

16mo.     $1.25. 

«7oe  and  the   Hotvards ;   or,   Armed  with  Eyes.     By  Carl. 

16rao.     $1.25. 

It  gives  much  valuable  information  in  regard  to  insects,  both  on  land 
and  water,  in  such  a  manner  as  cannot  fiiil  to  amuse  children,  while  it 
is  storing  their  minds  with  tliat  which  is  useful  for  them  to  know. 

Gilbert  Starr  and  his  Lessons.    By  Glance  Gaylord.     1  vol. 
16mo.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

GilberVs  Last  Summer  at  Rainfoi'd.     By  Glance  Gaylord. 
1  vol      16mo.     Illustrated.    ^1.5t). 


Boohs  Ptthlished  by  A.  F.  Graves.  9 

Will  RoofVs  FriendsTiip.     By  Glance  Gaylord.      1  vol.  16ma 

Illustrated.     $1.60. 
tTack  Arcombe.     1vol.     16mo.     Illustrated.     |1.50. 

Visit  to  Ireland.     By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.      IGmo.     Illus- 
trated.    $1. 

Englatid  and  Scotland.    By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.     16mo. 

Illustrated.     $1. 
Paris  to  Amsterdam.    By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.     16mo. 

Illustrated.     $1. 

Baltic  to   Vesuvius.     By  Rev.  D.  C  Eddy,  D.  D.     IGmo.     Illus- 
trated.    $1. 

27ie  Alps  and  the  Mhine.    By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.     16mo. 

Illustrated.     $1. 
Live  and  Learn.     By  Mrs.  Leslie.     1  vol.     16mo.     $1.25. 

The   Governor's  JPardon.    By   Mrs.   Leslie.      1  vol.     IGmo. 

.fl.25. 

T7ie  Errand  Boy  ;  or,  Your  Time  is  Yodr  Employer's.     IGmo. 

Muslin.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 
Don't  Say   So,    or,   You  may  be  Mistaken.      IGmo.     Muslin. 

.  Illustrated.     $1.25. 
The  3Iyrtle  Stories,    1  vol.    $1.75. 

This  is  finely  illustrated  with  a  large  number  of  engravings ;  also  a 
border  and  title-page  printed  in  colors,  making  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful books  for  the  holidays  published. 

Behind  the   Curtain ;  or,  Lelinan  the  Indian  Girl.     16mo. 

$1.25. 

JELelps  and  Hindrances  to  the  Cross.    IGmo.    $1.25. 

Breach  of  Trust;  or,  the  Professor  and  Possessor.     IGmo. 

$1.25. 

Arabian  Nights.    12mo.    $1.75. 
Robinson  Crusoe.    12mo.    $1.75. 
Swiss  Family  Bobinson.     12mo.     $1.75. 
The  Myrtle  Stories.    IGmo.    $1. 


10  Books  PuulUhed  by  A.  F.   Graves. 

Atntfi  I>{{l^oti  ;  OR,  How  to  be  Useful.     IGmo.     Muslin.     Illus* 

trated.     $1.25. 
Convict's  Son.     1  vol.     16mo.     Illustrated.     ^1.25.  » 

Maps  and  3Iishaps.     1  vol.    IGmo.     Illustrated.     $1.25.  ; 

Slster^S  Tt'lUiiiphs.     I  vol.     IGmo.     Illustrated.     $1.25.  ] 

Tivo  I'lresldes.     I  vol.     IGmo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 
Ann  AsJl.     1  vol.     IGmo.     Illustrated,     f  1.25. 
Mother-hi-Tjaw.     1  vol.     IGmo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 
Nellie  Gates.     1  vol.     IGmo.     Illustrated     $1.25.  ; 

Blind  Nellie's  Boy.    By  T.  S.  Akthur.     1  vol.    IGrao.    $1. 
Faul  Barton.     IGmo.    $1.25. 

Behind  the  Curtaiti.     IGmo.     $1.25.  Z 

Breach  of  Trust.     IGmo.    $1.25.  '  | 

TIelps  and  Hindrances.    IGmo.    $1.25. 

Walter  and  Frank.     IGmo.    $1.25.  ; 

Nellie  Milton's  Housekeeper.     IGmo.    $1.25.  | 

Broivnie  Sanford.    IGmo.    $1.25.  .    I 

Sfjlvia^s  Burden.     IGmo    $1.25.  ^ 

The    Young   3Ian^s  Friend.     New  Series.     By  Eet.  D.  CI 

Eddy,  D.  D.     $1.50.  ' 

This  excellent  book  consists  of  a  series  of  discourses  delivered  by 
Dr.  Eddy  to  "Young  Men,"  and  is  one  which  cannot  fail  of  making  a 
lasting  impression  on  whoever  shall  read  it. 
T7ie  Young  Man^s  Friend.    Eirst  Series.     By   Rev.  D.  C. 

Eddy,  D.  D.     $1.50. 

The  Heroines  of  the  Church.    By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D. 

$1.50. 
Angel  Wliisjyers.    By  Rev.  D.  C.  Eddy,  D.  D.     $1.50. 
The  Hand  of  Jesus.     By  Rev.  J.  D.   Chaplin,  D.  D.     18mo; 

gilt.     $1.50. 

This  is  a  book  of  devotion.     It  is  put  up  in  a  neat  form,  as  a  gift 
book,  and  is  an  excellent  religious  book. 

The  Mind  and   Words  of  Jesus,  and  Faithful  PROMisEa, 

18mo.     75  cents. 
Tlie  Words  of  Jesus.    50  cents. 
The  Mind  of  Jesus.    50  cents. 


-^ 


i 


University  of 
Connecticut 

^^"^^    Libraries 


